
Glass \ \ \ ^ 



Book. 



j^ 



IX 



THE 



BTATURAIi, STATISTICAL, AND CIVIL. 



HISTORY 



Ol" THE 



STATE OF NEW-YORK, 



IZV TBB.be VOIiVMES. 



By JAMES MACAULEY. 



troLtrms nx. 



-•w©g«»< 



NEW' YORK: 

PUBLISHED BY GOULD & BANKS, 

AND 
BY WILLIAM GOULD & CO. 

ALBANY. 



1829. 
A. S. Gould, Printer, 







Sduihern District of Kew-Yoi-k, si. ' 

BIC IT «V VJE- BERKD, that on the 16th Jay of March, A. D. Ift29, m the 
fifty-third year of the Independence of the United State* of America, Jame« 
Macaaley, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a Book, 
the ri^ht whereof he claims as Author, in the words following, to wit : 

" The Natural, Statistical and Civil History of the State of New- York. la 
Three Volumes. By James Macauley." 

In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled " An Act 
for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, 
and Hooks, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time there- 
in mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled " an Act, supplementary to an 
Act, en itled an Act tor the encouragement of I earning, by securing the copies 
of Maps', Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, 
dupu"; the times tlitrein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the 
arts of desiguing, engraving and etching, histor'r-.il and other prints." 

FRKD. J. BET1 S, 
Clerk of the Southern District of JVew-York. 



COBfTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Pages 

Approximation of the English and French colonies < , 2 
Washington sent on a mission to the French commandant on the 

Ohio ......... 

Preparations made by Virginia to resist the French . . 3 

Washington defeated by the French at the Little Meadows, &c. 3, 4 

Provision made for founding Columbia College . • : 4 

Renewal of the covenant mth the Agoneaseah ... 5 
England and France prepare for war — Operations in Nova Scotia 

— The Assembly of New-York vote supplies . . 6 

Schenectady and other places placed in attitudes of defence . 7 

Plan of the campaign for the reduction of Canada . . 8 

Convention of colonial governors ..... 8 

Braddock sets out with an army for Fort du Quesne . . 8, 9 

The British under Braddock totally defeated . . . 10 
Retreat of the British under Washington . . . 10,11 
The colonies of New England and New- York send large bodies 

of troops to Fort Edward and the head of Lake Geor<s^ 11,12 
Colonel Wilhams is defeated, between Glen's FaU^ and Lake 

George, by the French, under Baron Di''"^^'^ • • 12 
The Baron Dieskau defeated, by the PiOvincials, at Lake 

George ....•••• 12: 14 

The Provincials of New England and New- York, destined for 

the reduction of Niagara, proceed as far as Oswego . 15 

All the attempts this year for the reduction of Canada miscarry 16 
Meeting of the Provincial Governors at Albany . . 16, 17 

Provision made by the Assembly for the defence of the Province 17 

Sir Charles Hardv assumes the government . . • 18 



CHAPTER n. 

The legislature vote, in 1756, supplies of men and money for 
the defence of the province of New- York, and for to aid ia 
tlje reduction of Canada 19,2© 



iv CONTENTS, 



Pages. 



Major-general Winslow entrusted with the coinmand of the 

troops destined agamst Crown Point . . . 20 
Abercrombie joins Winslow, with a body of British troops . 21 
Provincials averse to being placed under British officers . 21 
The Marquis de Montcalm, with a body of French troops, in- 
vests Oswego, which surrenders after a short siege . 22, 23 
Forts Edward and "VViUiam Henry put into a state of defence 23 
A detaclunent of provincial militia, under Sir William Johnson, 

stationed at Germanflats, on the Mohawk . . 23 

The small-pox ravages the camp of the provincials T . 24 

The second campaign against Canada proves disastrous . 24 
In January, 1757, a military council, composed of governors 

and generals, is held at Boston .... 24, 25 

The Earl of Loudon sails from In ew-York for Halifax, with 

six thousand men ....... 26 

Montcalm fails in an attempt to carry Fort WiUiam Henry . 26 

Colonel Pai-ker defeated by the French, near Ticonderoga . 26, 27 

The i^'rench, under Montcalm, take Fort WiUiam Henry . 27 
Controversy between Lford Loudon and the legislature of 

Ma.parhusetts, in relation to quartering the troops , 28, 29 

Preparations for the campaign of 1758 .... 29 — 31 

The assembly of INew-York vote men and money to aid, &c. 31, 32 

Plan of the campaign" ....... 32 

The British wid colonial forces, under General Amherst, in- 
vest and take i-ouisburgh 32, 33 

The British and Provincials, under General Abercrombie, de- 
feated at Ticonderoga 33 — 35 

Colonel bradstreet takes Fort Trontenac, at the outlet of 

Lake Ontario . . . . . . . 35 

The British and Provincials capture Fort du Quesne . 35, 36 
In March, 1759, the assembly of New-York order troops to be 

raised, &c. ........ 37 

Conferences in October, 1758, at Easton, in Pennsylvania, 

betv/een the colonial governors and the Indian tribes 38 — 40 
Planof the campaign of 1759 against Canada ... 40 
The French abandon Ticonderoga and Crown Point . 41,42 
Isliagara invested by General Prideaux — His death . . 43 
Sir William Johnson, on whom the command devolves, defeats 
the French and Indians, under M. D'Aubry — Fort Nia- 
gara sun'enders ,,..,.. 43 



fONTENTS; V 

Pag^es. 

General Wolfe lands neai- Quebec 44, 45 

The French under Montcalm defeated . . * . 46, 47 
Quebec capitulates . . .... 47 

The French concentrate their forces about Montreal . 48 

M. de Levi defeats the English near Quebec — Ssiege of Que- 
bec by the French — Its abandonment . . .48, 49 
General Amherst proceeds, with the British and Provincial 

army, by Oswego and Oswegatchie to Montreal . 49, 56 
M. de Vaudreul surrenders Montreal, and all the places pos- 
sessed by the French ui Canada, to the English, in Sep- 
tember, 1760 50 

The legislature of New- York make a law to regulate the prac- 
tice of physic and surgery in the city of JNew-York . 51 , 52 
Hostilities of the Cherokees — Preparations made to invade 
their country — Their ambassadors perfidiously seized, 
confined, and mui'dered by the government of South Ca- 
rolina and its agents ...... 52, 5S 

War between the Cherokees and Caroiiuians . . .53, 54 
Cherokees defeated — They sue for peace, which is granted 54, 56 



CHAPTER m. 

Settlement of Vermont ...... 66,57 

Grants made by New-Hampshire to the settlers . . 57, 58 

The govermnent of New- York, in 1763, takes measures to 

assert its claim to the territory of Vermont . . 58 

Proclamation of the lieutenant-governor of New- York, in re- 
lation to the territory, &c. 58 

Counter proclamation of the governor of New-Hampshire, in 

March, 1764 58 

Submission, on the part of New- York, to the King and his 

council — Decision in its favour .... 59 

The colonial legislature of New-York vacate the New-Hamp- 
shire grants, &c. — The lands of the settlers granted to 
pensioners, &c. — Suits brought, &c. . . . 59 . 

The settlers refuse to give possession to the sheriff— The 

militia ordered out, but decline to act . . . 59, 60 

Orgamzed opposition by the settlers against the government 

of New-York ....... 60 



Page*. 



60 
60 

61 
62 
63 



Vi, CONTENTS. 

The settlese under the New-Hampshire grants send agents to 
Great Britain, to implore the aid of the King, and lor a 
hearing ....... 

The government of New-York ordered to suspend proceed 

ings, but it pays no attention to the order 
Arbitrary laws passed by the provincial assembly of New. 
York against the settlers .... 

Colonel Skeen dispatched by the settlers to Great Britain 
The revolution occasions, for a time, a suspension 
The assembly of New- York, in 1763, raise 800 men, who are 
stationed aA Cherry Valley and Schoharie, to watch the 
motions of the Indians ...... 63 

Commencement of the disputes between Great Britain and 

her American colonies ...... 64, 65 

Scheme for taxing the colonies ..... 65 

Stamp A.ct . . : . . • . ' . 66 

Right of taxation by Great Britain denied by the colonies . 67 

Combinations formed in the colonies to resist taxation . 69 

Resolutions of thp, assemblies of several of the colonies, ex- 
pressive of the right of taxation being vested in the colo- 
• nies, represented in the legislature .... 69 

Commissioners from nine of the colonies meet at the city of 

New- York, in October, 1765 . ' . . . . 70 

They adopt measures, and draw up a petition to the King . 70 

Associations formed in New- York and Connecticut . 70, 71 

Measures adopted by the Parliament to put the stamp and 

other laws into operation, &c. . . . , . 71,72 

The general court of Massachusetts send instructions to their 
agent in Great Britain, to use all his influence to prevent 
a law imposing duties, &c. . . , . .73 

Tumults at Boston 76 

Troops quartered in Boston ...... 77 

Associations in New-England, New- York, &c. , . 78 

■ Settlements made at Johnstown, Ballston, &c. . . 80 

Disputes, in March, 1770, between the inhabitants of Boston 

and the King's troops , 82 

Several persons killed while assaulting the troops . . 82 

Great excitement in the colonies .... 83 

Tea thrown overboard at Boston, in 1773 ... 86 

Parliament pass acts, and adopt violent measures against the 

people of Massachusetts .;.... i7 



COJiTENTS*. / VU 



Pages. 
Charter of Massachusetts subverted » . •. y 87 

Proclamation of General Gage ; . . . . 89 
Delegates from eleven of the colonies assemble, in Septem- 
ber, 1774, at Philadelphia 90 

Petition to the King — Declaration of rights . . 90 — 95 

Additional troops arrive at Bogton, &c; ; < . % 96 



CHAPTER IV. 

The convention of New- York choose delegates to the conti- 
nental Congress . . . . . . . 100 

General Gage detaches Colonel Smith and Major -Pitcaim, 

with troops, to destroy the stores at Concord . . 100 

The militia dispersed, and the stores destroyed . . 101 

The inhabitants assemble, and attack the King's troops — 

Battle of Lexington — The enemy retreat precipitately 101 

Provincial Congress of Massachusetts cause mi army to be 

levied ........ 101 

The people of New- York take up arms . . . i 102 
The Americans take Ticonderoga and Crown Point . 102 

The Congress organize an army, publish a manifesto, &c. 103—5 
The Generais Howe, Burgoyne and Clinton, arrive at Boston 

with troops i 105 

The New-England people take possession of Breed's Hill, in 

order to drive the British out of Boston . . . 105 

General Gage directs Geneml Howe to drive them from 

Breed's Hill 105,6 

Battle of Bunker's Hill 106 

Washington appointed to the supreme command of the Ame- 
rican armies — He repairs to the camp before Boston . 107 
The Americans besiege the British army m Boston, &c. . 108, 9 

Proceedings in New-York 109,110 

The British evacuate Boston 112,113 

Three thousand men from New- York and New-England, in- 
vade Canada and reduce St. John's, Montreal, &c. 113 — 15 
Montgomery with a body of • Americans marches for Que- 
bec — x\mold with a detachment of troops penetrates 
through the woods between New-England and Quebec 116, l7 



viii tmr^NftC. 

m 

Pages. 
His arrival before Quebec , . . . * • . llS 
The Americans repulsed in attempting to carry Quebec by 

storm . . . . . . • • 119,20 

Arnold blockades Quebec . . « • . ' .131 



CHAPTER V. 

Congress evince a determination to continue the war in Ca- 
nada — Troops raised, &c. ..... 122, 23 

The Americans raise the siege of Quebec . • ' 124, 25 
The British take nearly 400 Americans at the Cedars . . 126 
The Americans retreat to Chamblee and then to the Isle Aux 

Noix 127,28 

The British bum Norfolk and other places in Virginia 129, 30 

The Highlanders rise in North-Carolina and erect the royal 

standard, but are defeated - 
The British repulsed at Charleston 
The army in New-York augmented, &c. 
Deliberations of Congress 
Declaration of Independence 
The British under General Howe and Lor 

Staten Island 141,2 

Correspondence between General Howe and Wai^h'ngton 142, 3 
The Americans assemble in great force at the city of New- 
York and in its vicinity 143 

The British debark large bodies of troops on Long Island, 

near Utrecht and Gravcsend . . . . . 143, 4 

Operations — Battle of Long Island . . . . . i45 

Dispositions made by the enemy to attack New-York — They 
land on Manhattan Island — The Americans evacuate 
the city . . . . . . . . i47, 8 

General Howe lands a numerous body of troops at Frog's 

Neck, in Westchester county, &c 149 

Battle of White Plains 150 — 2 

Washington falls back to New-Castle 152 

The British invest Fort Washington, on York Island, or Man- 
hattan Island — Repulsed in attempting to carry it by as- 
sault — Fort WasWngton capitulates . . . l53, 4 



130, 31 
131 
132, 3 
134—6 
136—40 
Howe land on 



CONTENT^. 



IX 



Washington crosses the Hudson and takes pOoi in Nevv-Jer 

sey — His retreat to the Delaware 
Proclamation of Genera! Howe and Lord Howe 
The American army reduced to a handful of men 
The British advance to the Delaware . 
Washington surprises the Hessians at Trenton 
The enemy defeated at Princeton 
Lord Cornwalhs retreats to Brunswick 
General Sullivan retreats from the Isle Aux Noix to Crown 

Point ...... 

American fleet ca Lake Champlain destroyed 

The British tit out an expedition againit Rhode Island 

General Schuyler treats with the Agoneaseah, &c. 



Pages. 



154,5 
156 
157 

157,8 
158—60 

160, 1 
761 

162 

. 163,4 

. 165,6 

166—174 



CHAPTER \L 

The enemy after the battles of Trenton and Princeton con- 
centrates liis forces in New-Jersey .... 

Stores at Peekskill burnt by the enemy .... 

Military stores at Danbury, in Connecticut, burnt 

Brilliant acliievement of Colonel Meiggs .... 

Operations between the Americans and British, in N. Jersey 1 

New- York invaded on the side of Canada by the British, 
under Burgoyne, &c. ....;. 

The British appear before Ticonderoga and make preparations 
to invest it — The Americans abandon Ticonderoga and 
Mount Independence ...... 

Disorderly retreat of the Americans under St. Clair — Com- 
bat between a detachment of the Americans under Col. 
Warner and the British under Gen Fraser . * . 

The British take Skeensborough, Sic. .... 

General Schuyler repairs to Fort Edward — Eeorganizes the 
American army — Causes the road between Fort Ed- 
ward and Wood C reek to be obstructed, &c. 

The Northern army reinfcrced ..... 

The British, after great exertions, reach Sandy Hill — Gene- 

'■ ral Schvyler fail.-; back as far as Saratoga, &c . 

Fort Stanwix invested by a detachment of the British army, 

b 



1T6 
176 

176,7 

177,8 

78—80 

180—2 



182—5 



186 
186,7 



187—9 
190, 1 

. 191 



X Contents. 

PageSfc. 

under Colonel St. Legei— Defeat of the Mohawk mi- 
litia, at Oriskinny ...... 192, 3 

Arnold sent by General Schuyler, to the relief of Fort Stan- 

wLx — Siege raised . . . • . • 1 94 — ^ 

Burgoyne advances towards Saratoga — Colonel Baum de- 
tached to Bennington ...... 197,8 

Colonel Breyman sent with a detachment to reinforce him 198 

Battle of Beimmgton 199—203 

Murder of Miss M'Crea 202, 3 

General Gates supersedes General Schuyler . . . 203 

Burgoyne crosses the Hudson and encamps at Saratoga — His 
advance — Battle between the Americans and British, on 

the 19th of September 204 — 6 

Various operations :by detachments of troops . . 206, 7 

Battle on the 5th of October — The British, under Burgoyne, 

totally defeated, &c. . • . . . . 208—10 

Critical situation of the British army — Its suirender , 210 — 12 
Positions of the American and British armies, &c as given 

by General Wilkinson • • • . . - 213 — 15 

The British take Forts Clinton and Montgomery, on the 

Hudson — General Vaughan burns Kingston . . 216 — 19 

The defeat and capture of Burgoyne prodvices great sensation 

in England ........ 221 

General Howe lands at the head of Chesapeake Bay, and 
begins his march for Philadelphia — Battle of Brandy- 
wine — The British take Philadelphia, &c. . . 222 — 4 
Battle of Germantovvn ...... 225, 6 

The Hessians, under Count Donop, defeated in an assault 

upon Mud Bank 227 

The British make themselves masters of the Forts in Dela- 
ware river . . ..... 228, 9 

The American army, under Washington, goes into winter 

quarters, at Valley Forge . . . . . . 229 



CHAPTER VH. 

Suspension of the colonial government, in 1775 — Provincial 

Congress — Its proceedings, &c. . '. . . 231,32 
Convention of delegates from the several counties, meet at 



CONTENTS. XI 

Pages. 
Kingston and frame a constitution For the state — Its out- 
lines — Organization of the state government . 23.3 — 6 

Troops raised, &c. ....... 236, 7 

First session of the legislature, after the adoption of the con- 
stitution, is held at Poughkeepsic, &c. .... 237 

Sessions of the legislature held, in the years 1779, 1780,1781, 

&c. — Deliberations, &c. ..... 238 — 43 

Controversy between the government of New-York and the 

people of Vermont 243 — 57 

A list of the officers of the Revolutionary army, belonging to 

the line of the state of New-York • • • 258—60 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Condition of the American army at Valley Forge, &c. — Com- 
bination formed to remove Washington — Distresses of 
the army ........ 261 — 7 

The British government appoints commissioners to treat with 

the Americans about an adjustment of differences, &c. 268 — 70 

The declaratiorf' trf independence has a favourable effect in 

France — A treaty of allimice concluded with France 271, 2 

British treatment' of prisoners 272,3 

Rencontres between detachments of the American army, un- 
der Washington, and those of the British, under Howe 
— Inroads into New- Jersey . . . . . 273, 74 

The British evacuate Philadelphia and march for New-York 274 

Washington decamps from Valley Forge, and goes in quest 

of the British, &c 274—5 

Battle of Monmouth, &c 275—8 

Count de Estaing, with a French fleet, appears off the coast 

of Virginia, &c. ...... 278,9 

Americans land on Rhode-Island, in order to attack, in con- 
junction with the French fleet, the British . . 279, 80 

The British fleet appears off Rhode-lh land — The French fleet 
puts out to sea — Partial engagement — Both fleets dis- 
persed — The French fltet returns to Rhode-Island, 
and sails thence to Boston to refit .... 280 

Action on Rhode-Island, between the Americans and British 

— The former leave the Island .... 280, 1 

The British make incursions into Conpecticut and New- Jersey 282, 3 



Xii CONTENTS. 

Arrival of commissioners to treat with ths Americans 285, 6 
Wyoming, in Pennsj^lvania, laid waste by the tones and In- 
dians . . ... . • • 287—9 

A party of Americans march from Schoharie to Oquago, on 

the Susquehaimah, and destroy the Indian towns . . 290 

Cherry Valley '."^-'I ' d'ite by the tori.es and Indians . . . 291 

Colonel Olark takes tiie jiriti&h ports at Kaskaskia, &c. 292 



295 



CHAPTER IX. 

Cclonel Tan Schaick marches from Fort Schuyler, on the 
Mohawk, to Onondaga, and destroys the Indian settle- 
ments ....•-•• 

Expedition against the Senecas — The Generals Sullivan and 
Clinton form a junction at Tioga Point— Battle of New- 
ton — Devaiitation of the Seneca towns, &c. on Genesee 
river ....•••• ^ 296, 7 

Colonel Broadhead marches up the Alleghany rivt^ :},nd de- 
stroys the Indian towns in that quarter . . . 297 

Colonel Brandt, with a party of Indians and tor^:s, breaks 
into the Minisiuk settlement, in New-York, and ravages 
it 297,8 

The British make an incursion from New- York into Virginia, 

and destroy much property ..... 298 

Governor Tryon, with a large body of British troops, makes 
an inroad into Connecticut, and commits great depreda- 
tions — -East Haven, Green's Farms, Norwalk, &c. 
burnt 298, 9 

General Wayne, with a detachment of the American army, 

takes Stony Point, on the Hudson, by assault . 301, 2 

The British, at Powles' Hook, in New- Jersey, surprised by a 

party of Americans, under Major Lee .... 302 

General Level is sent by the state of Massachusetts, to dis- 
possess the British from a post in Penobscot, but fails 303 

Hostilities m the southern states ..... 304, 5 

Operations between the British and Americans ; . 305 7 

The Americans and French invest Savannah — Are repulsed 

in an attempt to cany the place by storm — Siege raised 308, 9 

Paper money — Its depreciation, fiic. ; ; . . 311 16 



CONTENTS. XUl 

CHAPTER X. 

Pager. 

The French fleet leaves the American coast — Sir Henry Clin- 
ton, with a British army, invades South Carolina — 
Charleston invested . . . . ■ . . 318 — 21 

Charleston surrenders — Detachments of the British army 

march into the country .'..,. 322, 3 

Troops sent from the middle and northern states to oppose 

the British 324 

The Americans, under General Gates, are totally defeated 

near Camden, by the British, under Lord Cornwallis 325, 6 

Rigorous measures of Lord CornwaUis — Baleful effects of 

slavery , , 327, 28 

Operations of Marion — Loyalists, under Ferguson, defeated 

— Tarleton repulsed by Sumpter . . . v . 328 — 30 

General Greene takes the command of the southern army 331 

Lord Stirling fails in an attempt to dislodge the British from 

Staten Island ........ 331 

General Knyphausen, with 5000 men, makes an inroad into 

New-Jersey . 332, 3 

Disaffection in the American army, &c. . . . 333 — 5 

Arrival of M. de Ternay and Count de Rochambeau, from 
France, at Rhode-Island, with a French fleet and ai my, 
to aid the Americans ...... 338 

The royalists and Indians devastate the Mohawk and Scho- 
harie counties ........ 339 

Treason of Arnold — Causes triat led him to it — His corres- 
pondence with Sir Henry Clinton — Interview between 
Arnold and Andre — The latter taken — Kis execution, 
&c. . 33P~45 

Arnold promoted a Brigadier General in the British army — 

His address to the American soldier.?, &c. . . 345, 6 

Great Britain declares war against the T^i eiherlands 346, 7 

The British take St. Eustatia, and plunder the inhabitants 348 



CHAPTER XL 

The soldiers of the Pennsylvania line revolt .- . 350, 1 

Distress of the American troops 351 — 3 



XfV CONTENTS/ 



PagCJ. 



General Arnold, with a body of British troops, invades Vir- 
ginia, and commits great depredations . . . 353 — 5 
Operations in South and North Carolina . . . 355, 6 

Morgan defeats Tarleton at the Cowpens . . . 357, 8 

Lord Cornwallis invades North Carolina — Greene and Mor- 
gan form a junction — Cornwallis follows Greene . 358, 9 
Greene retires before Cornwallis — Skirmishes between the 

Americans and British ..... 360, 1 

Battle of Guilford • 362, 3 

Cornwallis marches from Guilford to Wilmington — Greene 

follows him .......* 363 

The Americans, under Greene, march to the vicinity of Cam- 
den, in South Carolina ...... 364 

Action between Greene and Lord Rawden, neai" Camden 364, 5 

Greene retires behind the Santee— Success of the Americans 
— Greene invests the post of Ninety-Six, but is forced to 
retire ........ 366 — 8 

Lord Cornwallis marches to Petersburgh, in Virginia 368, 9 

The British march to James' river — Are opposed by the 

Americans, under the Marquis de La Fayette . 370, 1 

Operations between the Americans and British, in Virgmia 370, 1 
Lord Cornwallis takes post at Yorktown . . • • 372 

Count de Grasse arrives in the Chesapeake with a French fleet 

— The French troops, under de Simon, debark 372 

Perilous situation of the British army — Action between the 
French fleet, under de Grasse, and the British under 
Greaves — The latter retire . . . • . 372, 3 

Plan of operations agreed upon by the French and Americans 374 — 7 
The American and French armies, under Washington and 
Rochambeau, break up their cantonments on the Hud- 
son, and march for Virginia ..... 377 

Yorktown invested — Lord Cornvvallis surrenders to the Amer- 
icans and French ...... 378 — SO 

The British, under Arnold, make an incursion into Connec- 
ticut, and take New-London, &c. . . . 380, 1 

Hostilities commenced by the Cherokees, &c. . . 381, 2 



Ct>NTENTS, XV 



CHAPTER XII. 



Pages , 
After the capture of Lord Cornwallis, Washington returns to . 

the vicinity of New-York, and encamps with his army 383, 4 
General Wayne is detached by General Greene, with a body 

of troops, to Georgia — He defeats Colonel Brown 384, 5 

Slavery, a source of weakness ..... 385, 6 

The French take Demarara, Essequibo, &c. . . 387 

The French fleet, under Count de Grasse,defeatedbythe Eng- 
lish, under Admiral Rodney ..... 387, 8 

John Adams negotiates a treaty, &c. with the Netherlands 388, 9 
The Parliament of Great Britain recommend a discontinuance 
of offensive operations against the United States — New 
ministry formed in Great Britain — Overtures for peace, 
made by the British government . . . 390 — 2 

Massacre of the Moravian Indians, at Muskingum, by the 
whites — Colonel Crawford defeated by the Indians, at 
Sandusky ........ 392, 3 

Provisional articles of peace between Great Britain and the 

United States, agreed on at Paris, in November, 1 782 394 

Treatment of prisoners of war — Committees of public safety, 

&c. ; 394—-^ 

Discharge of the American army — Seditious address by one 
of the subaltern officers — Wa^-hington counteracts its in- 
tended effects . 399—401 

Washington issues his farewell address to the army . 402 

Triumphal entry of Washington into New- York . 402 

Washington repairs to Annapolis in Maryland, where Con- 
gress were in session, and resigns . . . 403 — 6 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Controversy with Vermont resumed — New-York consents to 
relinquish all*Tlaims to Vermont — Boundary between 
the two states fixed ...... 407— -15 

Causes which gave rise to the present greatness of the state 4 1 5 — 8 
Cession of the Genesee country to Massachusetts — Purchase 

of the country by Phelps and Goi ham . . . 418,9 



XVI CONTENTS. 

Page?. 

Military lands, . . . . t . . . .419 

Judge "V^ hite, the pioneer of the western country, settles at 

Saughdaghquada, now Whitesboro . • . 420 — 22 

Settlements made at Onondaga Hollow, Seneca Fa'li and 

East Cayi-ga, in Cayuga county ..... 422 

Coopcrstown, in Otsego, founded by Judge Cooper . . 428 

Oliver Phelps sets out from Massachusetts for the Genesee 
country — His arrival at I. anaiicla-gua — He negotiates a 
treaty, and purchases lands from the Senecas . . 423 

Oliver Phelps founds Canandaigua — Other settlements made 
in the Genesee country — Road opened from Wliitestown 
to Cailandaigua, through the woods . . . . 424 

Onondaga erected into a county — Population of the western 

country in 1800 .-.•.. 425 — 7 

Emigrations to the counties in the ba^in of the Hudson, &c. 
— Obstacles thrown into the way of emigrants — Act for 
the sale of the unappropriated lands, &c. . . 427 — 32 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Religion — Literary institutions — Schools . . - . 433 — 5 

Origin of the government of the United States, &c. . 436 — 40 

Government of the state . . . . . . 440 — 6 

A' list of the colonial and state governors, &c. . , 446 — 8 

Statement of votes given for governors since 1789 . 440 



TUB 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



CHAPTER I. 

The legislahij-e provide support for the garrison at Oswego, ht. 
— approrirnation oj the English and French colonies — differ^ 
ences — acts of hostility — French posts on the lakes. &c. — the 
French seize some of the British traders — in 1 753, the gover- 
nor vj Virginia sends Major Washington on a mission to the 
French commandant on the Ohio — preparations by Virginia 
to resist the French — Major Washington defeated by the 
French and Indians at the Little Meadoivs, he. — the assem^- 
hly make provision for Jbunding a college in the city of ^ew^ 
York — Mr. Detanccy succeeds Mr. Clinton in the government 
of the province — renewal of the covenant with the Agoneaseah 
— England and France prepare for war — operations in Nova 
Scotia — in 1755, the assembly vote £45,000 for putting the 
province ofJS/ew-York info an attitude of defence — arbitrary 
and sanguinary law in relation to slaves — the assembly order a 
levy of SOO men, &c arrival of General Braddock in Ame- 
rica — convention of the colonial governors — plan of the cam- 
paign — defeat of Braddock — Washington saves the remains of 
the army and falls back— troops assemble at Fort Edward, 
and the head of Lake George — Colonel Williams defeated be 
tween Glen's Falls and Fort George, by the Baron Dieskuu — 
defeat of Dieskau by the provincials at Fort George — expedi- 
tion against Niagara fails — campaign closes — meeting of all 
the colonial governors to devise means for the ensuing cam- 
paign — arrival of Sir Charles Hardy, as governor, in Sep- 
tember, 1755, &c. 
VOL. III. 1 



HISTORY OF THE 



In November, 1750, the legislature provided for the support 
of the garrison at Oswego. The acts in relation to this post 
were continued from year to 37ear. Hitherto the Indian trade 
at this place had been very profitable, to such as were concerned 
in it. An act to prolong the currency of the provincial bills of 
credit heretofore emitted, and fof a further emission, was also 
passed. 

In the mean time, the English and French colpnies were ap- 
proximating ; forts and trading houses were constructed on the 
Indian lands in advance of the settlements. Diflerences arose 
between the traders of the respective nations. The comman- 
ders of the posts fomented them. Acts of hostility were com- 
mitted. Each charged the other as being the aggressor. — 
The g')vernors took part, and it soon became evident that war 
would follow. The whole power of France was united under 
one goverrior, who could give it such direction as he chose. 

The abori!.;ines, with the exception of the Agoneaseah, were 
mosily in the French interest. The British colonies, on the 
other hand, were divided into a number of separate govern- 
ments, jea!ous of one another, and did not act in concert, if 
we except those of JNew England. 

Tiie governors of Canada were military men, possessed of 
great talents. They judiciously selected and fortified such 
places as would give their nation most influence with the Indi- 
ans, and enable them to repel and make attacks. New-York, 
from its situation, was more exposed to the inroads of the enemy 
than any other colony. 

The French had the command of Lakes Champlain, Ontario 
and Erip. They had a military chain of posts from the mouth 
of the St. Lawrence to Detroit. Their intention was to con- 
nect these with those which they had on the Mississippi. 

The ex^^rution of this plan was probably accelerated by the 
grant of a large tract of land situated on the Ohio river, by 
the British government, to several individuals of wealth and in- 
fluence, residing in England and Virginia. These associated 



STATE OF KLW-VOKK. 3 

and rorincd a coaipany, and adopted measures to take posses- 
sion. They erected several tradmg houses, and caused the 
lands to bo survevod. 

The govesnincnt of Canada having obtained early intelli- 
gence of these proceedings, and considering them intrusions 
upon France, wrote immediately to the governors of New-York 
and Pennsylvania, informing them that the traders had en- 
croached upon the French territories, and warning them that 
if they did not desist, he should be under the necessity of seizing 
them wherever they should be found. 

The menace of the governor of Canada being disregarded, 
he put it into execution, by seizing the British traders among 
the Miamies, and sending them as prisoners to Presqeile, (Erie) 
on Lake Erie, where a small fort was then erecting. The 
French opened a communication from Presqeile, (Erie) down 
French creek and Alleghany river, to the Ohio. Detachments 
of troops were stationed at proper distances from each other, 
and secured by works which would cover them in case of at- 
tacks. 

Dinwiddle, the lieutenant governor of Virginia, in the year 
1753, considering these measures tantamount to an invasion, 
dispatched Major Washington, (who afterwards conducted his 
country to independence and glory,) with a letter to the com- 
mandant of the French forces on the Ohio, requiring him to 
withdraw from the dominions of his Britannic Majesty. This 
letter was delivered at a fort on Fort La Beuf, the western 
branch of French creek, to M. De St. Pierre, the commander 
on the Ohio, who replied that he had taken possession of the 
country by the directions of his general then in Canada, to 
whom he would transmit the letter. 

Preparations were immediately made in Virginia, to assert the 
rights of the crown, and a regiment was raised for the prosecu- 
tion of the frontiers. By the death of the colonel, the command 
devolved on Major Washington, who attempted to pre-occupy 
the post at the coalescence of the Alleghany and Monongahelia 
rivers ; but on his march thither, he was met by a body of French 
and Indians, at a place called the Little Meadows, and defeated 



4 HISTORY OF THE 

and obliged to surrender after a gallant defence. The French, 
a short time before, had surprised Log Town, which the Virgini- 
ans had built upon the Ohio below Pittsburgh, and made them- 
selves masters of the block-house. At the same time, M. De 
Contrecoeur, with a thousand men and eighteen pieces of can- 
non, arrived at the junction of the Alleghany and Monongahe- 
lia rivers, in three hundred canoes, from Venango, and reduced 
a fort which the Virginians had erected there. 

These operations were ibllowed by divers skirmishes between 
the people of both nations, which were fought with various suc- 
cess. At length the governors of the English colonies receiv- 
ed orders from England, to form a confederacy for their mutual 
defence. 

The assembly of the province of New-York, in June, 
voted that one thousand one hundred and twenty pounds 
should be raised by lottery, in order to aid in the founding of 
Columbia College. At the same session, they directed that 
five hundred pounds should annually be paid out of the excise 
revenue, to the trustees of said institution, for the space of 
Seven years, in furtherance of the same design. Commissioners 
were appointed to examine in relation to the encroachments 
made upon the eastern borders of the province, by the colo- 
nies of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. 

Mr. Clinton was superseded in the government of the pro- 
vince by Mr. Osborn, on the tenth of October, 1753, but as the 
latter did not arrive till some time after, Mr. James Delancey 
acted as lieutenant governor. The assembly convened soon 
after the accession of Mr. Delancey. They voted at this ses- 
sion, that one thousand one hundred and twenty-five pounds 
should be raised fur Columbia College, by lottery. An act 
was iriade at the same session, which authorized the inhabi- 
tants of Rochester and Marbletown, in the county of Ulster, to 
have two constables in each town instead of one. The people, 
in these times, could dispense with a third or fourth part of the 
constables that we now have. There were then fewer justices, in 
proportion to the population, than there are now. Litigation 
has, in general, increased with the increase of justices, and will 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 5 

continue to increase so long as the office is sought, rather on 
account of its emoluments than its honour. Some neighbour- 
hoods, where there were not five law suits in a-year, before 
they had justices, have not unfrequently, as many hundreds. 

The lieutenant governor, Mr. Delancey, was directed to 
confer with the Agoneasean chiefs, with a view to detach them 
from the French interest. A congress was accordingly ap- 
pointed at Albany, to which place Mr. Delancey repaired, ac- 
compained by commissioners from the other colonies, but a small 
number of delegates attended on the part of the Agoneaseah, 
and even these seemed to be quite indillerent to the advances 
and exhortations that were made to them. The French, by 
their superior address, had, in a measure, detached them from 
our interest. The Agoneaseah, however, accepted the pre- 
sents given to them, and renewed the ancient compact, intimat- 
ing, at the same time, that they should demand assistance to 
drive the French out of the country. 

Both nations, by this time, perceived that a rupture would 
be inevitable, and each resolved to make suitable preparations. 
France continued to send reinforcements to Quebec, for the 
prosecution of her projects. The governors of the provinces 
were exhorted to unite in their endeavours for repealing the 
incursions of the enemy, but such an union was not easdy 
effected. The different colonies were divided by different views 
and interests. Besides, every colony was more or less distract- 
ed by factions, formed by the governors, and the demagogues 
of the assembly. 

In August, the legislature of the province of New-York, 
voted five thousand pounds towards aiding the colonies of 
Pennsylvania and Virginia, in an expedition against the 
French, in the country of Ohio. 

A law was passed to prevent malicious informations in the 
Supreme Court. Before this, it had been customary to begin, 
and carry on prosecutions for trespasses, batteries, and other 
misdemeanors in this court, by way of information. The act 
made the informer liable for costs wherever he did not sustain 
ills complaint, unless the judge certified that he had probable 



ti HISTORY OF THE 

cause. This was a very necessary restricting law, in as maclj 
as it checked the propensities of men disposed to vex their 
neighbours witii groundless complaints. 

Ample provision was made for the support of the garrison 
of Oswego. The militia act was also prolonged. At the 
same session, measures were adopted to adjust a controversy 
wliich had been pending for some tim-.-, between New-York 
and New-Jersey, in relation to the partition line. 

[u the beginning of the year 1755, the assembly of Massa- 
chusetts passed an act prohibiting all correspondence with the 
French at Louisburgh ; and early in the spring they raised a 
body of troops, which was transported to Nova Scotia, to aid 
Lieutenant Governor Lawrence, in driving the French from 
some places which they had made themselves masters of in 
that province. These troops were placed under the command 
of Colonel Mockton, who proceeded to the river Massaguash, 
where he found the passage oppos'ed by a party of French and 
Indians, part of whom were posted in a block- house. 1 he 
Massachusetts troops attacked with such spirit that the enemy 
were obliged to fly with precipitation, and leave them in pos- 
session of the block-house and all their works. From thence, 
Colonel Mockton advanced to the French fort. Beau Sejour, 
which he invested and took by the middle of June. Mockton 
then proceeded to the other fort, on the river Gaspereau, which 
the enemy abandoned. By these successes the English be- 
came masters of all Nova Scotia. 

In the month of February, 1755, the legislature of New- 
York, voted forty-five thousand pounds for the purpose of 
putting the province into a proper posture of defence, and also 
for furthering his Majesty's design against the French in Ca- 
nada. As the sum voted was wanted, immediately bills of 
credit were issued, and made redeemable as soon as the money 
should be collected by taxation. 

A law, regulating the militia, was enacted. By it, every 
male, between sixteen and sixty, was required to enrol him- 
self. In cases of imminent danger, slaves had to do military 
duty. The, act declares, that if any one or more slave or slaves. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. •< 

ubove the age of fourteen, shall in time of alarm or invasion, 
be found a mile or more from the habitation or plantation of his 
or tlieir owner or owners, without a certificate from the owner 
or owners, signifying the business he or they may be sent on, it 
sliall be adjudged felony, without benefitof clergy : and further, 
that it should be lawful for the person or persons finding such 
slave or slaves, to shoot or destroy him or them without being 
impeached or prosecuted for the same. The philanthropist 
must feel indignant at such inhuman legislation law. The same 
act provided, that centinels should be posted in different parts of 
the province to sound alarms, in cases of invasions. 

The house passed a law, on the third day of March, to ena- 
ble the inhabitants of Schenectady, to fortify it with stockadoes. 
This town had been fortified on several occasions, in the same 
manner. Stockade fortifications were then, and had been from 
the very origin of the colony, common, and were in general, 
sufficient dtft^nces against the undisciplined and illy armed na- 
tives. Stockade fortifications, consisted of posts, set in the 
ground, side by side, with their tops sharpened. In some 
inst;inces, ditches were formed around the outsides. Within 
these stockades, there was one or more block-houses, and now and 
then a fort. In the settlements, along the Rlohawk river, and 
Schoharie creek, and along the Hudson, at Saratoga, and on 
Iloosack river, and in the counties of Ulster and Orange, tliere 
was usually but one block-house, and this was near the middle 
of the enclosure. The ground enclosed, varied from one, to 
two or three acres. Albany aud Schenectady were exceptions. 
The enclosures were extended, as these places increased in pa- 
pulation. A tew of the block-houses, erected in the Mohawk 
country, during the revolution, still exist, but they are now in 
very ruinous conditions. 

When these works were directed to be made, Schenectady 
was an inconsiderable town, standing in the midst of a vast for- 
est, the narrow settlement, along the Mohawk river, scarcely 
forming an exception. There were no improvements beyond 
the ravine or valley, except Stone Arabia, and now and then a 



8 HISTORY OF THE 

settlement, containing two or three families. The fine countryj 
without the ravine, was still covered with woods. 

In May, the legislature ordered a levy of eigiit hundred men 
to co-operate with the troops from the other provinces, and from 
England, in the reduction of Canada. Ten thousand pounds 
were voted towards defraying the expense. A law was made to 
impress ship carpenters, joiners, and all other artificers and 
labourers, to aid in building boats. The same law authorized 
the taking of horses, wagons, boats, &c. into the public ser- 
vice. 

A very active campaign had been meditated in America. 
One of the first measures adopted by General Braddock, after 
his arrival, was a convention of the several governors for the 
purpose of settling the military plan of operaiions. This was 
held in Virginia, on the 14th of April, 1755, where three expe- 
ditions were resolved on. 

The first was against fort Du Quesne.* This was underta- 
ken by Braddock, in person and the British troops, with such 
aids as could be drawn from Virginia and Maryland. 

The second was designed against Forts Frontenact and Nia- 
gara. This was to be commanded by Governor Shirley. The 
American regulars, consisting of Shirley's and Peperel's regi- 
ments, constituted the principal force relied on for the reduc- 
tion of these places. 

The third was against Crow Point. It was to be executed 
by the colonial forces, raised by New- York and New England. 
The command was given to Major General William Johnson, 
then one of the council of the former province. 

As soon as the several governors who met Braddock for the 
purpose of fixing the plan of the campaign, had separated, that 
general proceeded from Alexandria^ to a post at Will's creek, 
since called Fort Cumberland, near the source of the Potomac, 
which was at that time the most western post held by the Eng- 
lish in Virginia or Maryland, and from whence the army destin- 

* Now Pittsburgh f Kingston in Upper Canada 1 In the District 

of Columbia. 



STATi: OF NLW-VORK. 9 

ed na,aiiist Fort dti Quosne, wns (o commence its march. So 
grt'iit were the diiilciiliiesot t)l)ta"uiiug wagons ami the iiepessfiry 
siippii*"^ for the expedition, that the troops couhi nut be put in 
moiion mitil the middle of June, and then the delays occas;oi!e4 
by opening a road over the mountains, were such as to produce 
some apprciiension that lime would be afforded the enemy to 
collect in great I'orce at Fort dn Qucsne, and thereby put the 
sucre^s of the rnterpvise )\\ some lia/.ard. lidluenced by this 
consideration, it was determined to select twelve hundred meu 
from the different corps of tlie army, at the head of whom the 
general should advance in person, as speedily as possible^ 
Their baggage was to be carried on horses, and no greater 
number of wagons was to be attached to them than was neces- 
sary for the transportation of the military stores. The residue 
of the army, under the command of Colonel Dunbar, with al| 
the heavy baggage, was to follow in the rear by easy marches. 

This disposition being made, Braddock pressed forward \x\ 
the confidence that no enemy existed in the country capable of 
opposing him with effect. 

Although divested of every necessary incumberance, his 
march was so much retarded by the natural impediments of the 
country, that he did not reach the Monongahelia until the 
eighth of July. The succeeding day, he counted on investing 
Fort du Quesne, and such a disposition of his forces was made 
in the morning, as he supposed best adapted to his situatiofl? 

The Provincial troops, composing a part of Braddock's 
army, consisted entirely of independent and ranging cotnpanies. 
The regiment commanded by Washington, in 1754, had been 
improvidently broken into companies at the close of the cam- 
paign, and he wqs now with the general, in the capacity of aid, 
Braddock was cautioned of the danger, and advised to advance 
the Provincials in his front, for the purpose of scouring the 
vvoods, and discovering any ambuscade which might be forme4 
for him. But he held both his enemy and the Provincials \t\ 
too much contempt to follow this salutary advice. Three hnpr 
dred British regulars, commanded by I/ieutenant Colonel Gage, 

vol.. III. 2 



10 HISTORY OF THE 

composed his van ; and he followed at some distance with the 
main body of the army divjded into columns. 

Within about seven miles of Fort du Quesne, immediatly after 
crossing the Monongahelia the second lime, in an open wood, 
thick set with high grass, as he was advancing entirely unappre- 
hensive of danger, his front was suddenly and unexpectedly at- 
tacked by an invisible enemy. :; 

The van was thrown into some confusion, and the general 
having ordered up the main body, which was formed three deep^ 
and the commanding officer of the enemy having fallen, the 
attack was suspended for a short time, and the assailants were 
supposed to be dispersed. This momentary delusion, how- 
ever, was soon dissipated. The attack was renewed with 
increased fury ; the van fell back on the nrain body ; and 
the whole was thrown into utter confusion. The general, 
who possessed personal courage in a very eminent degree, but 
who was without experience in that species of warfare, and who 
seems not to have been endowed with that fertility of genius 
which adapts itself to the existing state of things, and invents 
expedients fitted to the emergency was, in the present crisis, 
extremely unfortunate in his choice of measures. 

Braddock neither advanced upon the enemy nor retreated^ 
but used the utmost of his power to rally and form his broken 
troops, under an incessant and destructive fire. In his abortive 
efllirts to restore order, every officer on horseback, except 
Washington, was killed or wounded, and at length, the general 
himself, after loosing three horses, received a mortal wound, and 
his regulars fled in the utmost confusion. Fortunately, the 
enemy was arrested by the plunder found on the field of battle, 
and the pursuit was soon given up. The Provincials, under 
these trying circumstances, exhibited an unexpected degree of 
courage, and were among the last to leave the field. 

The defeat was total, and the carnage unus^iall}' great ; sixty- 
four, out of eighty-five officers, and about one-half of the privates 
were killed and wounded. The cannon, military stores, and 
even the private cabinet of the general, containing his instruc- 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 11 

lions, fell into the hands of the enemy. The force of the French, 
in this action, was computed at aboitt three hundred men. 

The defeated army fled, precipitately, to tlie camp of Colonel 
Dunbar, where Braddock expired oC his wounds. The terror 
excited by this unexpected defeat, seems to have been communi- 
cated to the residue of the army. As if the situation of their 
aflairs had become desperate, all the stores collected for the cam- 
paign, except those necessary for immediate use, were destroyed, 
and not long after the deaiii of Braddock, the British troops 
were marched to Philadelphia, fir in the interior, where they 
were put into winter quarters, leaving the inhabitants to pro- 
tect themselves, or fall victims to Indian warfare. 

Upon the retreat of ihe^ discomfited army of Braddock, the 
frontiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, were exposed 
to the inroads of the savages. The back settlements were gen- 
erally broken up, and the inhabitants driven into the interior 
country. 

The two northern expeditions, though not so disasterous, 
were neither of them successful. For that against Crown 
Point, which was to be carried on entirely by Provincials, was 
retarded by insuperable delays. 

The rendezvous of the troops, for both these expeditions, was 
appointed to be at Albany, where most of them arrived before 
the end of June — but the artillery, batteaux, provisions, and 
other necessaries, for the attempt upon Crown Point, could not 
be prepared before the eighth of August, when General Johnson 
set out with them from Albany, for the Carrying Place, from 
Hudson's river, to Lake George.* There the troops had al- 
ready arrived under Major General Lyman, and consisted of be^ 
tween five and six thousand men, besides Indians, raised by 
the colonies of New-York and New England. Every thing 
was then prepared as fast as possible for a march ; and towards 

*Fort EJward was built in 1755, by the colonial forces— it was then called 
the Carrying Place. A road was opened iVom Sandy Hill, by Glen's Falls, to 
the head of L.ake Genrje, the same year, where the troops formed a camp,, 
which ^vas fortified by a rampart and ditch. Its ruins are now faintly marked, 
out, 



ia iliiituRir OF fnii 

tlie end of the irioiith, Geiierrtl Johnson :ulvanred about iburtteii 
tniles forward, with [lis troops, asitl encamped at the head of 
Lake George* Here he resolved to awaii the arrival of Ins 
batteaux, and afterwards nvoceed tO' Ticonderoca, near the out- 
let of the lake, fiom whence it \v;!S al)out iifiecn miles to Crown 
I*oint, called by die French, Fort Frederick. While he wab 
thus encamped, some of the Indians brought him intelligence 
that a considerable number of the enemy were then on their 
march, by the t^ay of South Bay, towards the fortified encamp- 
hient, since called Fun Edward, vvliich General Lyman had built 
at the Carrying Place, and in whicli four or ti\t hundred Fio- 
Viacials had been left as a garrison. Upon this intelligence, 
Johnson sent two expresses to Colonel lilanchard, their com- 
tnatider, with qrders to call in all his out parties, and to keep his 
whole force within the intrenchments. About twelve o'clock at 
night, those who had been sent out upon the second express, re- 
turned with an account of their having ie.e\\ the enemy within 
font- miles of the camp, at the Carrying Place. Early the next 
tnorning he called a council, wherein it was unadvisedly resolv- 
ed, without knowing the number of the enemy, to detach one 
thousand men, and some of the Indians, to interrupt them in their 
retreat. Between eight and nine o'clock in the morning, a 
thousand inen, with two hundred Indians, were detached under 
the command of Colonel Williams, but they had not been gone 
t\Vo liours when those in the camp began to hear a close firing, 
about three miles distant — as it approached nearer and nearer, 
they rightly supposed that the detachment was overpowered, 
Iknd retreating towards the camp, which was soon confirmed by 
solne fugitives, and presently by whole companies, who fled 
back in great confusion. In a very short time after, the enemy 
appeared, marching in regular order, up to the centre of the 
camp, where the consternation was so great, that if they had at- 
tacked the breast-work directly, they might probably have 
throwti all into confusion, and obtained an easy victory ; but, 
fortunately for the Provincials, ihey halted for some time about 
the distance of one hundred and fifty yards, and from thence, be- 
gfttt their attack, with platoon firing, too far off to do much hurt, 



STATE Ob' NEW-YORK. 13 

(^.specially apain-t troops Who were defended by a strong breast- 
work. On the contrary, this ineflectual fire served only to raise 
the spirits of the latter, who having prepared their artillery dur- 
ing the liine that the French halted, began to play it so briskly 
upon the enemy, that the Canadians and the Indians (led ininiedi- 
atelv inJo the woods on each side of the camp, and there squat- 
tod under bushes, or skulked behind logs and trees, from 
whence they continued firing with very little effect. Baron 
Dieskan, who commanded the French, being left alone with 
his regular troops, at the front of the camp, finding that ti,he 
could not make a close attack upon the centre, with his small 
number of men, moved first to the left and then to the right, at 
both of which places, he endeavoured to force a passage, but 
was repulsed. Instead of retreating, as he oughi, in prudence 
to have done, he still continued his platoon and bush firing, till 
four o'clock ia the afternoon, during which lime his regulars 
suflered greatly by the fire from the camp, and were at length 
thrown into confusion, which was no sooner perceived by the 
Provincials, than they, without w aiting for orders, leaped oVer 
their breast-work attacked the enemy on all sides, and after 
killing and taking a considerable number of them, entirely dis- 
persed the rest. The French, whose numbers, at the beginning 
of the engagement, consisted of about two thousand men, in- 
cluding Canadians and Indians, had between seven and eight 
hundred killed, and thirty taken prisoners ; among the latter, 
was Baron Dieskau himself, whom they found at a little dis- 
tance, dangerously wounded, leaning on the stump of a tree, for 
his support. The Provincials lost about two hundred men, and 
these chiefly of the detachment under Colonel Williams, for they 
had very (ew either killed or wounded in the attack upon theii* 
camp, and not any of distinction, except Colonel Titcomb killed, 
and the general himself, and Major Nichols wounded. Among 
the slain, of the detachment which would probably have been 
entirely cut ofl", had not Lieutenant Cole been sent out^from the 
camp with three hundred men, were Colonel Williams, Major 
Ashley, and six captains, and several subalterns, besides privates, 



14 HISTORY OF THE 

and the Indians reckoned that they had lost forty men, besides 
the brave Hendrick, the Mohawk Sachem. 

When Baron Dieskau set out from Ticonderoga, his design 
was only to surprise and cut ofi' the intrenched camp, now called 
Fort Edward. Jiut when he was within four miles of the fort, 
his people were informed that there were several cannon there* 
and none at the camp, at the head of Lake George ; upon 
^vhich, tiiey all desired to be led on to this last place, which he 
the more readily consented to, as he himself had been told by a 
prisoner, wlio had left this can»p but a few days before, that it 
was quite defenceless, being without any lines, and destitute of 
rannon, which, in effect was true, at that time, for the cannon 
did not arrive, nor was the breast-work erected till about two 
days before the engagement. To this misinformation must be im- 
puted this step, which otherwise would be inconsistent with the 
character and abilities of Baron Dieskau. A less justifiable 
error seems to have been committed by Johnson, in not detach- 
ing a party to pursue the enemy, when they were defeated, and 
fled. Perhaps he was prevented from doing so by the ill fate of 
the detachment he had sent out in the morning, under Colonel 
Williams. However that may be, his neglect, in this respect, 
had like to have been fatal the next day, to a detaclmient sent 
from Fort Edward, consisting of one hundred and twenty meji, 
of the New-Hampshire regiment, under Captain McGinnis, as 
a re-inforcement to the army at the camp. This party fell in 
with between three and four hundred of Dieskau's troops, near 
where Colonel Williams had been defeated the day before ; but 
McGinnis having timely notice, by his scouts, of the ap- 
proach of the enemy, made such a disposition, that he not only 
repulsed the assailants, but defeated and entirely routed and 
dispersed them, with only two killed, eleven wounded, and five 
missing. He himself died of the wounds he received, a few- 
days after. 

It was now judged too late in the year to proceed to the at- 
tack of Crown Point. They, therefore, set out upon their re- 
turn soon after this engagement, having first erected a little 
stockade at the head of Lake George, in which they left a 



» 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 15 

smalt garrison as a future prey for the enemy. This was all 
the glory, (if it can be so called) and all the advantage the Pro- 
vincials acquired by such an expensive expedition. But so 
little had they been accustomed of late to hear of victory, that 
they rejoiced at this advantage, as if it had been an action of 
the greatest consequence. The general was highly applauded, 
and liberally rewarded. 

The preparations of Governor Shirley's expedition against 
FortFrontenac and Niagara, were not only deficient but shame- 
fully slow ; though it was well known that even the possibility 
of his success must, in a great measure, depend upon his setting 
out early in the year, as will appear to any person who con- 
siders the situation of the country at that time, between the set- 
tlements on the Mohawk and those forts. 

General Shirley's force consisted of about two thoussnd Pro- 
vincials, and about one hundred and twenty Indians. He reach- 
ed Oswego, on Lake Ontario, about the eighteenth of August ; 
but the whole of his troops and artillery did not arrive till about 
the last of that month ; and even then, their store o provisions 
was not sufficient to enable them to proceed against Nia- 
gara. The general now resolved to take but six hundred men 
with him for the attack of Niagara, and to leave the rest of 
Jiis army, consisting of fourteen hundred men, at Oswego, to 
defend that place, in case the French should attack it in his 
absence. However, he was still obliged to wait till the twenty- 
sixth of September, before the necessary supplies of provisions 
had arrived, and then the weather became so boisterous on Lake 
Ontario, that it was deemed unadvisable to embark, and con- 
sequently the expedition was relinquished till the next season.* 

General Shirley, with the greater part of his troops, returned 



* The colonial forces made a road from the upper part of Germanflats, as 
it was then called, to Fort Stanwix, (Rome). It began in Schuyler, about 
seven miles east of Utica, and run on the north side of the Mohawk, to the lat- 
ter place, and there crossed to the south side of the river. It occupied nearly 
the same rout which the present road does, till it came near the Cedar Swamp, 
south of Rome, where it turned to the right, and left the swamp to the south- 
west and west. 



16 HISTORY GF THE 

to Albany, which they reached on the tweiity-fonrlh day of 
October, leaving Colonel Mercer with seven hundred n:en at 
Oswego. Thus ended this unfortunate canjpaign. It oj)tned 
with so decided a superiority ol" force on the part of the English 
and Provincials,, as to promise the most important advantages. 
But if we except the expulsion of the French from Nova Scotia, 
no single enterprise was crowned with success. Great exer- 
tions were made by the colonies of New-York and New-Eng- 
land, and large debts were incurred, but their efiorts were 
productive of very litile benefit. From the want of one general 
superintending authority in their councils, which could control 
the whole, every thing failed. 

The system adopted by the British cabinet, for conducting 
the war in America, left it to the colonial governments respec- 
tively, to determine on the number of men each should bring 
into the field, but required them to support their own troops, 
and also to contribute towards the support of those sent from 
Great Britain and Ireland. But this system could not be en- 
forced. The requisitions of the British minister were adopted, 
rejected or modified, at the discretion of the government, on 
which they were made ; and as no rule of proportion had been 
adopted, each colony was much inclined to consider itself as 
having contributed more than its equal share towards the gene- 
ral object, and as having received less of the attention and 
protection of the mother country than it was entitled to. This 
temper produced a slow and reluctant compliance on the part 
of some, which enfeebled and disconcerted enterprises, for the 
execution of which the resources of all ought to have been com- 
bined. 

On the return of general Shirely to Albany, after the close 
of the campaign, in 1755, he received there a commission from 
the lords justices of the kingdom, appointing him commander 
and chief of the forces in North America. 

A meeting of all the governors was immediately called at 
New-York, for the purpose of holding a grand council of war, 
in order to concert a plan of operations for the ensuing cam- 
paign. In this council, which was attended by the governor* 



STAVE OF NEW-YORK. 17 

of Connecticut, New-York, Pennsylvania and Maryland, the 
ill success of the last campaign was attributed principally to 
the insufficiency of the forces employed. Operations, not less 
extensive than those which had been proposed for the preced- 
ing year, were again contemplated ; and to ensure their suc- 
cess, measures of much greater vigour were resolved on. The 
reduction of Crown Point, Forts Frontenac and Niagara, with 
other posts on Lake Ontario and Fort du Quesne, were still 
the favourite objects of the council, and it was determined to 
make very great exertions to accomplish it. It was proposed 
to raise ten thousand men for the expedition against Crown 
Point, six thousand for that against Niagara and Frontenac, 
and three thousand against Fort du Quesne. In addition to 
these formidable forces, and to favour their operations, it wr.s 
proposed that two thousand men should march up the river 
Kennebec, destroy the settlements on the Chaudiere, and de- 
scend to the mouth of that river, which is within a few miles 
of Quebec, and keep all that part of Canada in alarm. 

In the mean time, it was proposed to take advantage of the 
season, when Lake Champlain should be frozen over, to seize 
Ticonderoga, the garrison of which was understood to be very 
feeble. This project, however, was defeated by the unusual 
mildness of the winter. General Shirley, who was then governor 
of Massachusetts, set out for Boston, in order to hasten the 
preparations for the next campaign. 

But to return again to the affairs of the Province. The as- 
sembly, on the fifth of July, 1755, authorized the corporation 
of the city of Albany, together with some of the justices of 
the peace of the county, to repair the fortifications of the city. 
The city, at this time, was surrounded with pickets, and had a 
fort and several block-houses. The house voted eight thousand 
pounds towards defraying the expense of two thousand five hun- 
dred Provincials from Connecticut. As on former occasions, 
hills of credit were issued to meet the exigencies, and made re- 
deemable in 17G2. The colony, about this time, was greatly 
burthened with taxes. 

VOL. III. 3 



18 HISTORY OF THE 

Sir Charles Hardy assumed the government of the Province 
on the twentieth day of September, 1753. 

The legislature, at their session in December, the same year, 
passed a law, empowering the governor, in case volunteers 
could not b« had, to make detachments from the militia of the 
several counties of Orange, Ulster, Dutchess and Albany. 
Those from Orange and Ulster were to be employed in the 
capacity of rangers on the western frontiers of those counties ; 
while those of Dutchess and Albany were to serve in garrison 
at Fort Edward and Fort William Henry. At the same ses- 
sion, the act, giving to his Majesty duties on goods, wares and 
merchandises, and upon slaves, was prolonged. 

See Colonial Laws, Williams' History of Vermont, and Marshall's I*ife of 
Washington in respect to the principal facts contained in the preceding chap- 
t«r» 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 19 



CHAPTER II. 

The assembly, in the early pan of the year 1 756, vote supplies 
oj men and money to aid in the defence of the Province, and 
the reduction of Canada — General Wimloio appointed to 
command the expedition against Crown Point — differences be- 
tween General Wmslow and Abercrombie, in relation to the 
command— arrival of the Earl Loudoun, at Albany, as c.om^ 
mander-in-chief — the Marquis de Montcalm takts Oswego — 
the invasion of Canada abandoned — the smalt pox sweeps off 
many of the troops — military council composed o/ the colonial 
governors and Lord Loudoun, held at Boston, in January, 
1151 — his lordship makes requisitions on the colonies— great 
preparations are made for the ensuing campaign — Lord Lou- 
doun sails from New- York to Halifax, leaving the Province to 
defend itself — defeat oj Colonel Parker, near Ticondtroga — 
the Marquis de Montcalm takes Fort William Henry — the 
Earl oj Loudoun puts his troops into winter quarters — his 
disputes with the legislature uf Massachusetts. 

JPrcparations for the campaign of 1758 — troopt levied in this 
Province and the other Provinces — the Earl of Loudoun re- 
turns to Europe — Abercrombie defeated at Ticonderoga — 
General Amherst takes Louisburgh — Colonel Broadstreet 
takes Fort Frontcnac — Fort du Quesne taken by the British 
and colonial troops. 

The legislature, in February, 1756, empowered the colonel 
of the militia of the county of Albany, to send out such detach- 
ments of men, from time to time, and in rotation, as he might 
deem necessary. The detachments so sent out, were to be 
employed as scouts and rangers, in order to guard against sur- 
prises, and to convey intelligence, should the enemy attempt 
an invasion of the county on the side of Canada, or on the 
side of the Agoneaseah. 



20 HISTORY OP THE 

Gn the first day of April, the house ordered that one thou- 
sand seven hundred and fifteen men should be raised in the co- 
lony, to co-operate with the forces to be raised in the otliej? 
colonies, in the reduction of Canada, or otherwise, as might 
best promote the public service. In order to carry the levy 
into effect, and to provide for the men while in service, they 
directed that bills of credit, to the amount of fifty-two thou- 
sand pounds, should be issued on the faith of the colony, and 
made current to the month of November, 1766. By a law, 
enacted at the same session, the governor was authorized to 
send forces to New-Jersey and Pennsylvania, to assist in carry- 
ing on offensive operations with those colonies, against the In- 
dians, living on the frontiers of those Provinces, and in case 
of a defect in volunteers, the act allowed him to send detach- 
ments from the counties of Orange and Ulster, not exceeding 
one thousand men. The solicitude to accomplish the objects 
contemplated, was so great, that the people, not only of this 
colony, but of the others, strained every nerve to raise and 
equip the number of men required. 

The command of the expedition against Crown Point, was 
given to Major General Winslow, whose reputation and influ- 
ence were very considerable. 

Having made in Massachusetts, so far as depended on that 
government, all the necessary preparations for the next cam- 
paign, Shirley set out for Albany, where he was soon supersed- 
ed by Major General Abercrombie, who, in his turn, yielded 
the command to the Earl of Loudoun. 

That nobleman had been appointed early in the year, to the 
command of all his Majesty's forces in North America, and very 
extensive powers, both civil and military, had been conferred 
on him. But he did not arrive at Albany before midsummer^ 
The appointment of a general, who had a knowledge of mili- 
tary affairs, was very apparent at this juncture. General Shir- 
ley was a person no ways qualified to conduct the operations of 
an army, nor indeed, could any success in war be expected 
from a man who had not been bred to arms, and whose capaci- 
ty was hardly sufficient for a governor in peaceable times :-»-• 



I 

STATE OF NEW-YORK. 2j[ 

hat the cabinet seem not to have made, after all, a very judicious 
selection. 

The Provincial troops destined for the expedition against 
Crown Point, had before that time, been assembled at the posts 
held in the vicinity of Lake George ; but on being reviewed by 
Major General Winslow, they were found not much to exceed 
seven thousand men. From this number was to be deducted 
the garrisons which necessarily must be left in the posts to be 
maintained in his rear ; and he declared himself unable to pro- 
ceed on the expedition. The arrival, however, of General 
Abercrombie, with a body of British troops, removed this diffi- 
culty, when another occurred, which for a lime suspended the 
projected enterprise. The regulations of the crown, respecting 
rank, had given great disgust in America, and rendered it ex- 
tremely difficult to carry on any military operation which re- 
quired a junction of British and American troops. When con- 
sulted on this delicate subject, General Winslow assured Gen- 
eral Abercrombie of his apprehensions, that if the result of the 
juction should be the placing the Provincials under British 
officers, it would produce ve-y general discontent. In this opi- 
nion, and to avoid so unpleaiant a circumstance, it was finally 
agreed that the British troops should succeed the Provincials 
in the posts at present occuped by them, so as to enable the 
whole colonial force to proceeciunder Winslow, on the proposed 
expedition. \ 

On the arrival of the Earl of Loudoun, this subject was re- 
vived, and the question was, by bim, very seriously propound- 
«d, whether the troops in the sexeral colonies of New-Vork 
and New England, armed with his Majesty's arms, would, in 
obedience to his commands, signified to them, act in conjunc- 
tion with his European troops, and under the command of his 
commander-in-chief. The colonial officers could only answer 
thi» very serious question, in the affirmative ; but they entreat- 
ed it as a favour of his lordship, as the New England and New- 
York troops had been raised on particular terms, and had pro- 
ceeded thus far to act as originally organized, that he w«ul<i 



22 HISTORY OF THE 

permit them, so far as might consist with his Majesty's service, 
to act separately. This request was acceded to, but before 
any thing was undertaken, in consequence of it, the attention, 
both of the Europeans and Provincials, was directed to their 
own defence. 

M. de Montcalm, an able and experienced officer, who suc- 
ceeded Baron Dieskau, in the command of the French torces 
in Canada, seemed disposed to compensate, by his superior 
activity, for the inferior number ol his troops. While the Bri- 
tish and Americans were adjusting their difficulties, respecting 
rank, and deliberating whether to attack Crown Point, JNiaga- 
ra or Fort du Quesiie, Montcalm advanced, at the head of five 
thousand French, Canadians and Indians, against Oswego. In 
three days he brought up his artillery, and opened a battery, 
which played with considerable efl'ect. Colonel Mercer, the 
commanding officer, was killed, and in a few hours, the place 
was declared by the engineers to be no longer tenable. To 
prevent an assault, the garrisons, consisting of the regiments of 
Shirley and Pepperel, amounting to one thousand and six hun- 
dred men, supplied with provisionsfor five months, capitulated. 

The fort at Oswego had been erected in the country of the 
Agoneaseah, and was viewed by them not entirely without 
jealousy. Actuated by a wise pflicy, Montcalm destroyed it 
in their presence, declaring to t^em, at the same tune, that the 
French only wished to enable ttem to preserve their neutrality, 
and, therefore, would make no other use of the rights conquest 
liad given them, than to destroy the fortresses, which the Eng- 
lish had erected in their eouitry, to overawe them. 

Previons to the investme-it of Oswego, .Major General Webb 
had been detached with one regiment for its relief, should it 
be attacked by the enemy, and had proceeded as far up this 
MohawV river, as Rome, then called the Carrying Place, where 
he received the disagreeable news, that it was taken, and the 
jtrrison made prisoners of war. Webb, apprehending himself 
ia danger of being attacked by the enemy, began immediately 
to render Wood creek impassible for boats, by felling trees 
across the stream ; while the enemy, ignorant of his numbers, 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. . 23 

and apprehensive of a visitation from him, took the same 
method of preventing his approach. 

The loss of Oswego was considered a national misfortune. — 
Besides the garrison, the fort contained one hundred and twen- 
ty-one pieces of artillery, fourteen mortars, with a great quantity 
of ammunition, warlike stores and provisions. Two sloops, and 
two hundred batteaux, likewise, fell into their hands. Such an 
important magazine, deposited in a place altogether indefensible, 
and withoui the reach of immediate succor, was a flagrant 
proof of egregious folly, temerity and misconduct. 

Apparently discouraged and disconcerted at this untoward 
•vent, every plan of offensive operation was immediately relin- 
quished, and the whole attention of Lord Loudoun was direct- 
ed to his security from still further loss. General Winslow was 
ordered not to proceed on his intended expedition against Ti- 
conderoga, but to fortify his camp so as to guard against any 
attack which might be made on it, and to endeavour to prevent 
the enemy from penetrating into the country, by the way of 
South bay or Wood creek, of Lake Champlain. Meanwhile the 
Forts Edward and William Henry were put in a proper posture 
of defence, and secured with numerous garrisons. Major Gen- 
eral Webb, with fourteen hundred men, was posted at the great 
Carrying Place ; while Sir William Johnson, with about one 
thousand militia belonging to the colony of New-York, was 
stationed at the Germanflats, at the union of West Canada creek 
with the Mohawk. The rest of the forces were put into winter 
quarters at Albany. 

Fort Granville, on the confines of Pennsylvania, was surpris- 
ed by a party of French and Indians, who made the garrison^ 
consisting of twenty-two soldiers, prisoners. 

This disposition being made for the protection of the fron- 
tiers, now invaded by the French, the colonies were strenuously 
urged to reinforce the army. It was represented to them that 
if any disaster befel Winslow, who still remained at the head of 
Lake George, the enemy might be enabled to overrun the 
country, unless opposed by a much superior force to that in the 
field. 



24 IIISTORF OF THte 

During this State of apprehension and inactivity, the sma)l 
]iox, a more formidable enemy than Montcalm, broke out in the 
arm)', and committed great ravages. The recruits from New- 
England, who were on their way to the camp, were so alarmed, 
that application was made to countermand their march. The 
army encamped at Lake George, was equally afflicted with this 
dreadful malady. It was found necessary to garrison the posts 
in that quarter, entirely with British troops, and discharge aU 
the Provincials, except a regiment raised by New-York. 

Thus terminated, for a second time, in defeat and disappoint- 
ment, the sanguine hopes formed by the colonists, of a brilliant 
campaign. Large sums of money had been expended, and 
powerful forces levied and assembled, but after all, nothing had 
been done to drive the enemy even from their outpost at Ti- 
conderoga. 

The expedition to Lake Ontario had not been commenced, 
and, as for that against Fort du Quesne, no preparations were 
made. The colonies of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia 
were not able to protect themselves ; and their frontiers were 
exposed to all the horrors of Indian warfare. 

The expedition up the river Kennebec, for the purpose of 
destroying the settlements on the Chaudiere, and alarming Que- 
bec, was also abandoned. 

About the middle of January, 1757, a military council, com- 
posed of Lord Loudoun, and the governors of the New England 
colonies, and of Nova Scotia, was held at Boston. His Lord- 
ship opened his propositions to this council, with a speech, in 
which he attributed to the colonies all the disasters of the pre- 
ceding campaign. No notice, he said, of the proposed expedi- 
tion against Crown Point, had been received by his Majesty*s 
ministers, when he sailed from England, on the 17th of May, 
though that expedition had been resolved on by the assem- 
bly of Massachusetts, so early as the sixteenth of February. 
The Provincial troops were, in no respect, equal to the expec- 
tations he had been authorized to entertain of them. The 
stipulated number had not been brought into the field, and in 
quality, they were so inferior to those of former years, that he 



STAIE OF NKW-YOfvK. 25 

Was obliged to unite tliem to the regulars ; a connexion in the 
way of which they interposerl so many difijculiies, that Oswego 
.and the posts belonging to the English were taken, before the 
delays thus produced could be surmounted. He complained 
too, that the real state of the forts and garrisons had not been 
represented to him by his predecessors, and that his requisition 
on the colonies, had only produced the votes of the several 
assemblies which effected nothing ; nor was he relieved from 
this situation until the arrival of the Highlanders, enabled hiin 
90 to reinforce the Provincials, as probably to have saved him 
from being defeated and the country from being entirely over- 
run by the enemy. He then proposed that New England 
should raise four thousand men for the ensuing campaign ; a 
contribution, of which he said they ought not to complain, 
when they reflected on the expense incurred by the crown in 
supporting such a number of troops, as were employed by it 
in iheir defence. Requisitions, proportionably large, were also 
made on the provinces of New- York and New Jersey. 

The legislature of New-York, in December 1756, passed a 
law for billeting and quartering the King's forces upon the 
inhabitants of the province. It was to continue in force to the 
first of January, 175S. Duties were imposed on all imports. 
A stamp act was introduced ; and indeed every thing which 
would wring money from k people impoverished and borne 
down by two disastrous campaigns. 

Notwithstanding the ill success which had thus far attended 
the combined armies of America and Great Britain, and not- 
withstanding the untrueness of his lordsliips assertions, that 
all the disasters of the preceding campaign were attributable to 
the Americans, and that a few Highland Scotch had saved the 
country from being overrun ; the colonies still cherished the 
hope, that their future efforts, under abler counsellors and bet- 
ter generals than his lordship, would be altendeU with mor« 
success; they therefore exerted th.emselves, disregarding his 
asseverations, to bring a formidable force into the field, and the 
winter was spent in great preparations. The requisitions of 
lord Loudoun were complied with, and be found himself m 

VOL, ni. ^ 



26 HISTORY OF THE 

the spring at the head of a formidable army, not composed of 
a few Highlanders and British troops, for these would have 
scarcely forn)ed the rear guard, but of Provincials. Jt was 
not now doubted, that some important enterprise would be 
undertaken against Canada, as soon as the armament expected 
from Europe should arrive. 

In the beginning of July, Admiral llolbourn arrived at 
Hnlifax, with a squadron and transports under his command, 
and a reinforcement of five thousand men under the command 
of George Viscount Howe, and on the sixth of the same month 
the Earl of Loudoun sailed from the city of New-York with 
six thousand men, to join the troops lately arrived from Eu- 
rope, at the place of their arrival. When the junction was 
effected, the whole force amounted to twelve thousand men. 

But after collecting the land and naval forces at this point, in- 
telligence was received, that a fleet had lately arrived from Brest, 
and that Louisburgh was garrisoned by a regular army of six 
thousand men exclusive of Provincials, and was also defended 
by seventeen line of battle ships, which were moored in the 
harbour. The commanders were fully apprised of the conse- 
quences of an unsuccessful attempt ; and it was therefore resolv- 
ed to abandon the expedition for the present. 

Lord Loudoun's departure from ISew-York with so consid- 
erable a body of troops, afforded the Marquis de Montcalm the 
fairest opportunity of improving the successes of the former 
campaign In March he had made an attempt to carry Fort 
William Henry, at the head of Lake George, but, although he 
failed, he succeeded in destroying two sloops, almost all the 
batieaux, three store-houses, and every thing not covered by 
the guns of the fort. 

Colonel Parker, with a detachment of men, in the early part 
of the campaign, went by water, in whale-boats, to attack the 
enemy's advanced guard, at Ticonderoga, and landing at night 
on an island, he dispatched, before dawn, three boats to 
the main land, which they took. Having procured informa- 
tion of the colonel's design, they concerted their measures ac- 
cordingly, and placed three hundred men in ambush, behind the 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 27 

point where Colonel Parker intended to land, and sent three 
batteunx to the place of rendezvous. Colonel Parker niisiak- 
ing these for his own boats, eag;erly put to shore, where he was 
surrounded by the enemy, reinforced with lour hundred men, 
and attacked with such impetuosity tliat of the whole deiaclmient, 
only two officers and seventy private men escaped. Flushed 
with this advantage, and animated with the absence of the 
British general-in-chief, the iMarquis de Montcalm, collected 
an army which, with the Canadians and Indian^, amounted, as 
is said, to nine thousand men, and proceeded directly to Fort 
William Henry. This fort was garrisoned with three thousand 
men, under the command of Colonel Monroe. The fortifica- 
tions were strong, and in very good condition. On the very 
day he invested the place, he summoned the commander to sur- 
render, which was refused, under a hope that succour would be 
sent. Upon this, the French opened a tremendous fire from 
their batteries, which they kept up for six days, at the end of 
which, the garrison capitulated on account of a want of am- 
munition. During this time, General Webb remained at Fort 
Edward, with four thousand men, and made no efiectual at- 
tempt to annoy the enemy, or aflbrd relief to the garrison. 

When this important place was surrendered, the commander- 
in-chief had not yet returned from Halifax. The loss of Fort 
Edward, it was feared would quickly follow that of Fort Wil- 
liam Henry, and the whole northern frontier be laid open to the 
formidable enemy, who menaced its invasion. On the first ap- 
proach of the enemy towards him, General Webb had applied 
for additional troops, which were held in reserve for the purpose 
of assisting him in case of emergency, and the utmost exer- 
tions were made to furnish them from the militia. It is not im- 
probable that these exertions were among the causes which re- 
strained Montcalm from marching to Fort Edward. The re- 
turn of the regulars to New-York, on the last of August, dis- 
pelled the fear of an invasion. 

Foiled in all his endeavours to reap laurels from the common 
enemy, the earl of Loudoun, after placing his army in winter 
quarters, found himself engaged in a controversy with Mns'g- 



2^ IIlS'iORY OF THt: 

chusetts, in the beginning of which, at least, be displayed a de- 
gree ol" vigour, wliich b*id tiH now, been kept in reserve for two 
campaigns. This tontroveisy is thus stated by Mr. Minot. 

" Upon information from the governor, that a regiment of 
Highlanders was expected in Boston, the general court pro- 
vided barracks for one tliousand men at Ca»ile Island, not as 
.in expense which could be of right, demanded of the inhabit- 
ants, but as an advance of money on the national accounl. 
Soon after several officers arrived from Nova Scotia, to recruit 
tl)eir regiments, which could not be done if they were to be 
lodged in tiie barracks at the castle. They made application 
to the justices of the peace, to quarter and billet them, as pro- 
vided by act of Parii.tment ; but met with a refusal on the 
principle, no doul)t, that the act did not extend to this country. 
In consequence, lord Loudoun sent a letter, November 13ih, 
17.57, insisting peremptorily on the right demanded, as the act 
far quartering did, in his opinion, extend to America, and 
every part of his Majesty's dominions, where the necessities of 
the' people should oblige h:m to send those troops, either for 
the defence of those dominions, or the protection of his sub- 
jecJts. After descanting largely on the question, he conclud- 
ed in the following decisive manner ; that having used gentle- 
ness and patience, and confuted their arguments without efl'ect, 
they having returned to their mistaken plan ; their not comply- 
iilo-, would lay him under the necessity of taking measures to 
prevent the whole continent from being thrown into confusion. 
As tiothing was wanting to set things right, but the justices 
doing their duty (for no act of the assembly was necessary, or 
wanting for it) he had ordered the messenger to remain only 
forty-eight hours in Boston ; and if on his return, he found 
things not setded, he would instantly order into Boston the 
three battalions from New-York, Long Island and Connecti- 
cut ; and if more were wanting, he had two in the Jerseys, 
at hand, besides those in Pennsylvania. As public business 
obliged him to take another route, he had no more time to settle 
lUis materia! affair, and must take the necessary steps before 
iils'departure, in case they were not done by themselves." 



STATt: OF Ni:\V-Y01lK. 29 

The general court passed a law. This law was far short of 
Tjis lorclsliip's expectation, wliicli lie failcrl not to communicate 
by a letter, which the governor laid belbre the assembly, 'i hey 
answered it by a spirited address to his excellency, in which the 
spirit oi' their fathers seemed to revive. They again asserted, 
that the parts of the act of Parliament, relating to this subject, 
did not extend to the colonies and plantations. ^ hey assert- 
ed their natural rights ; thai by the royal charter, the powers 
and privileges of civil government were granted lo them ; 
that the enjoyment of these was their su|)port under all bur- 
dens, and would animate them to resist an invading enemy to 
the last. My lord, upon receiving the address, and some as- 
surances from the governor, lowered his peak and countermand- 
ed the march of the troops. 

But to return to the affairs of the Province of New-York. 
The assembly, in the winter of 1757, adopted measures to 
complete its contingent of troops, and prepare them (or active 
operations. 

On the third of June, Sir Charles Hardy, who had been 
promoted to the rank of rear admiral in the British navy, re- 
signed the office of governor to James Delancey, who had for- 
merly filled the office of lieutenant governor. 

The legislature, in their session, held in December the same 
year, among the acts passed, enacted one with some additions, 
prolonging the several militia acts. The additions merely re- 
lated lo the counties of Orange and Ulster, and consisted in 
this, that it empowered the commanding officers, in the back 
settlements, to call out the militia under their respective com- 
mands, in cases of invasions. These counties, at this time, were 
thinly peopled, and had exfensive frontiers, which were not 
unfrequenily exposed to the inroads of the Indians. The set- 
tlements, in general, were insulated, and did not extend so 
far back as they now do, especially those of Ulster. Woods, 
aild mountains intervened between these settlements. We have 
no way of ascertaining the population, or even the militia of 
these counties, at this period ; about seven years before, the 
latter amounted to three thousand men. 



30 HISTORY OF THE 

In Orana;e, the Minlsink settlement was on the then frontieri 
It lay along Basler's-kill and Neversink river. Between it 
and the other settlements lay the Shawangunk mountain, over 
which there were then only some rude paths. Between it and 
Ulster, many miles of woods intervened. On the west there 
was a forest which stretched westwardly to Lake Erie. 

The acts laying duties on imports, and continuing the stamp 
act, were extended. An act to keep up tiie currency of the 
bills of credit was also made. 

The campaign of 1757 had terminated disastrously, leaving 
the afl'airs of Great Britain in America in a worse situation 
than at any former period. By the reduction and destruction 
of Oswego on Lake Ontario, and the capture and demolition 
of fort William Henry at the head of Lake George, the French 
had obtained the entire dominion of Lakes Ontario and George. 
By means of Fort du Quesne too on the Ohio, they maintained 
their ascendancy over the Indians and held undisturbed posses- 
sion of all the country west of the Alleghany mountains, while 
the colonies were restricted to the country between the Atlantic 
oceai. and the east side of those mountains. With a very infe- 
rior force, the French had been successful in every campaign 
and now threatened the subversion of the colonies. 

A change however in the British ministry, by whicii Mr. 
Pitt was placed at the head of the cabinet, gave a -new aspect 
to affairs in America. Mr. Pitt was very popular in the colo- 
nies. He assured them, that formidable forces should be sent 
over to act in concert with the colonies, both by sea and land ; 
he recommended to them, to raise as large bodies of men with- 
in their respective governments as they could ; and he inform- 
ed them, that arms, ammunition, tents, provisions and boats 
should be provided by the crown. 

The legislature of Massachusetts voted seven thousand men ; 
Connecticut agreed to furnish five thousand ; and J\ew Hamp- 
shire three thousand ; New-York contributed two thousand #fx 
hundred and eighty effective men. So high was the public 
spirit and so great were the exertions, that the American troops 
were ready to take the field very early in May. Nearly one 



STATE OP NEW-YORK. 



SI 



third of the effective men of Massachusetts are said by ]\Ir. 
MiDot to have been in military service, in some mode or other; 
and the taxes are represented to have been so lieavy, that in 
Boston they amounted to two thirds of the income of real 
estate. 

In the mother country too, svas transfused into every de- 
partment a degree of vigorous activity. Her fleets blocked 
^p the ports of France, and preventeiJ the supplies of men and 
stores destined lor Canada, from going out. Admiral Boscaw- 
en arrived ear^y in the spring at Halifax, with a powerful fleet 
and twelve thousand land forces, under the command of General 
Amherst. 

We have already noticed the contingent of New-York. The 
whole number of men required by the British ministry, from 
tbe colonies, was twenty thousand. Towards defraying the 
expenses of these, the assembly voted one hundred thousand 
pounds, which were to be levied by a tax. To meet this sum 
immediately, bills of credit to the same amount were issued, 
and made payable in November 1 768, with interest. 

This tax, when we consider the population and circumstan- 
ces of the province at that time, and the difference in the value 
of money was enormous. 

The act authorising a levy of two thousand six hundred and 
eighty men, gives the quotas to be furnished by each county 
in the province ; to wit : 

The city and county of New- York, . . 312 men. 



The city and county of Albany, 
King's county. 
Queen's county, . 
Suffolk county, . , 

Richmond county. 
West Chester county, . 
Dutchess county, 
Ulster county. 
Orange county, 



514 do. 

63 do. 

290 do. 

290 do. 

55 do. 

394 do. 

389 do. 

228 do. 

147 do. 



2,680 men> 



32 IlISTORy OF THE 

These were to be raised in case volunteers could not be pro- 
cured. There was a clause in the act, which subjected all Iree 
negroes, niustees and inulatoes to be detached indiscriminately. 

An act was passed at this session, empowering justices ot 
the peace to try causes to the amount of ten pounds. Hence, 
it obtained the name of the ten pound act. This superseded 
the five pound act, as the latter had tiie forty shilling act. We 
have noticed the mutations which were made in this court, un- 
der the colonial government. The objects of the law, arcord- 
ing to the preamble, were to facilitate the colfection of debts, 
prevent litigation and correct abuses. How far the second and 
third objects have been attained, suitors can best determine. 

The Earl of Loudoun had, after tvVo inglorious campaigns, 
returned to Europe, and the command of all the forces had 
devolved on General Abercrombie. He now saw himself at 
the head of the most powerful army ever seen in America. His 
whole numbers, comprehending troops of every description, 
have been computed by Mr. Belsham, at fifty tliousand men, 
of whom about twenty-five thousand were Provincials. '^I'o 
have been irresistible, this force required only energy and 
skill in its direction. The objects of the campaign were no 
longer defeated by delays. 

Three expeditions were proposed for this year. The first was 
against Louisburgh; the second was against Ticonderoga and 
Crown Point; and the third was against Fort du Quesne. The 
forces, destined against Louisburgh, amounted to twelve or 
fourteen thousand men and were commanded by Mnjor General 
Amherst. Those destined against Ticonderoga consisted ofsix- 
teen thousand men, and were under the command of Aber- 
crombie. Those employed against Fort du Qnesne comprised 
a force of about eight thousand men, commanded by Brigadier 
General Forbes. 

General Amherst embarked with his troops at Halifax, May 
24th, and in conjunction with Admiral Boscawen sailed from 
Louisbourgh, where he an'ived the second of June. The gar- 
rison of this place, consisting of about three thousand men in- 
cluding some militia, was commanded by the Chevalier da 



dTATK OF NEW-YORK. 33 

Brucoui-t. Amherst, soon after his arrival, commenced the 
siege, which was prosecuted with so much vigor, that the 
place surrendered on the twenty-seventh day of July. The 
reduction of Louisbourgh, Island Royal, St. John's, and their 
dependencies, very essentially diminished the military and naval 
strength of France in America, and opened the way for the 
reduction of Canada. 

The expedition against Ticonderoga and Crown Point was 
conducted by Abercrombie in person. In the beginning of 
July he embarked his forces, amounting to nearly seven thou- 
sand regulars and ten thousand Provincials, on Lake George, 
on board of nine hundred batteaux, and one hundred and 
thirty-five whale boats with provisions, artillery and ammunition. 
Several pieces of cannon were mounted on rafts, to cover the 
proposed landing at the outlet of the lake. Early the next 
morning he reached the landing place, which was in a cove on 
the west side of the lake near its issue, leading to the advanced 
guard of the enemy, composed of one battalion, in a logged 
camp. He immediately debarked his forces, and after having 
formed them into three columns, marched to the enemy's advanc- 
ed post, which was abandoned with precipitation. He con- 
tinued his march with the army towards Ticonderoga, with 
the intention of investing it ; but the rout lying through a thick 
wood that did not admit of any regular progression, and the 
guides proving extremely ignorant, the troops were bewildered, 
and the columns broken by falling in one on another. Lord 
Howe being advanced at the head of the right center column, 
encountered a French detachment, that had likewise Jost its. 
way in the retreat from the advanced post, and a warm skir- 
mish ensuing, the enemy were routed with considerable lossj 
and one hundred and forty-eight were taken prisoners. This 
advantage was purchased at a dear rate. Lord Howe, and one 
other officer, besides privates, were killed. The former is spO' 
ken of in very high terms for his bravery. Abercrombie perceivv 
ing the troops were greatly fatigued and disordered, deemed it 
advisable to fall back to the landing place. Then he detached 
Lieutenant Colonel Bradstreet, with a detachment, to take pes'* 
voT.. nr, a 



34 HISTORY Ul- THE 

session of a saw mill in the vicinity of Ticonderoga, which the 
enemy had abandoned. This post being secured, Abercrombie 
advanced again towards Ticonderoga, where he understood Aout 
the prisoners, the enemy had assembled eight battalions, with a 
body of Canadians and Indians, amounting in all to six thousand 
men. The actual number, however, was considerably less, not 
exceeding four thousand men, as was afterwards ascertained. 
These, they said, being encamped before the fort, were employ- 
ed in making a formidable intrenchment, where they intended 
to wait for a reinforcement of three thousand men, who had 
been detached under the command of M. de Levi, to make a 
diversion on the side of the Mohawk ; but upon intelligence of 
Abercrombie's approach, were now recalled for the defence of 
Ticonderoga. This information induced Abercrombie to 
strike, if possible, some decisive blow before the junction could 
be effected. He therefore early next morning sent his engineer 
to reconnoitre the enemy's intrenchments ; and he, upon his 
return, reported that the works being still unfinished, might be 
attempted with good prospect of success. A disposition was 
made accordingly for the attack, and after proper guards had 
been left at the saw mill and the landing place, the whole army- 
was put in motion. The troops advanced with great alacrity 
towards the intrenchments, which, however, they found altoge- 
ther impracticable. The breast-work was raised eight feet high, 
and the ground before it covered with an abbatis, or felled trees, 
with their boughs pointing outwards, and projecting in such a 
manner as to render the intrenchment almost inaccessible. 
Notwithstanding these discouraging difficulties, the troops 
marched up to the assault with an undaunted resolution, and 
sustained a terrible fire. They endeavoured to force their way 
through these embarrassments, and some of them even mounted 
the parapet ; but the enemy were so well covered, and defended 
their works with so much gallantry, notwithstanding their great- 
ly inferior numbers, that no impression could be made ; the 
carnage became fearfully great, and the assailants began to 
fall into great confusion, after several attacks, which lasted sev- 
eral hours. Abercrombie by this time saw plainly tjjat no hope 



S-TATE OF NEW-YORK. 95 

oY success remained ; and in order to prevent a total defeat, 
sounded a retreat, leaving about two thousand men on the field. 
Every corps of the army behaved, on this unfortunate day, 
with remarkable intrepidity ; the greatest loss sustained among 
the corps, was that of the regiment of Lord John Murray. 

As if entirely disconcerted by this bloody repulse, Abercrom- 
bie totally relinquished, for the present campaign, his designs 
against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and returned to the 
head of Lake George. This attack upon the French lines was 
condemned, and his retreat as pusillanimous. 

In the mean time, to wipe away the disgrace which he had 
sustained, Abercrombie detached Colonel Bradstreet, with a 
body of three thousand men, chiefly Provincials, against Cad- 
araqui, or Fort Frontenac, situated on the north side of the St. 
Lawrence, just where it issues from Lake Ontario. The gar- 
rison of this fort, consisting of only one hundred and ten men, 
with a few Indians, surrendered upon the first summons. The 
capture of this post, in a measure, destroyed the connexion be- 
tween the French posts on the St. Lawrence and the upper 
lakes. The fortifications of Frontenac were inconsiderable. 
They nevertheless contained sixty pieces of cannon, sixteen 
small mortars, and an immense quantity of merchandise and 
provisions, deposited for the use of the French forces, detached 
against General Forbes, their western garrisons, and Indian 
allies. The vessels, amounting to nine, al^o fell into the hands 
of Colonel Bradstreet. 

In aH probability, the destruction of Fort Frontenac facili- 
tated the reduction of Fort du Quesne. General Forbes mar- 
ched from Philadelphia, about the beginning of July, at the 
head of the main body, in order to join Colonel Bouquet at 
Raystown. The most unaccountable delays were experienced 
in making the necessary preparations to move from this place, 
and it was not until the month of September, that the Virgini- 
ans, commanded by Colonel Washington, were ordered to join 
the British troops. A new road to Fort du Quesne, over the 
^mountains by Raystown, had to be opened. About the time 
ihat tb€ resolution of opening a new road was adopted, and 



36 HISTORY OF 'i'HE 

before the army was put in motion. Major Gr.int was detacher 
.from the advanced post at Loyal liarnman, with eight lyindred 
•Yneii, partly British and partly Provincials, to reconnoiter the 
fort and the adjacent country. This ofiicer, who seems to have 
had more temerity than judgment and good sense, invited an 
attack fronj the garrison, the result of which was, that upwards 
of three hundred of the detachment were killed and wounded, 
«nd the major himself was made a prisoner. At length 
the army, amounting to eight thousand men, moved from Rays- 
town. The difficulties to be surmounted were so great that 
they did not reach Fort du Quesne until late in November^ 
Deserted by the Indians, and too weak to maintain the place 
against so formidable an army, the brave garrison abandoned 
the fort the evening before the arrival of the British and Amer- 
ican army, and descended the Ohio in boats. 

The British and Americans took possession of it, and placing 
n garrison there, changed its name to Pittsburg. The acqui- 
sition of this post was of unspeakable benefit to Pennsylvania, 
Maryland and Virginia. Tlie expulsion of the French gave 
th^ English the entire possession of the country, and produced 
a complete revolution in the disposition of the Jndians. Find- 
ing the current of success to be settling against their ancient 
friends, they manifested a disposition to reconcile themselves to 
the most powerful, and a treaty was held, at which peace was 
concluded with all the tribes between the lakes and the Ohio. 

Although the events of 1758 did not, perhaps, in every quar- 
ter, equal the expectations which might reasonably have been 
entertained from the mighty forces brought into the field, yet 
the advantages gained in it, were decisive. The whole coun- 
try, constituting the original cause of the war, had changed 
masters. The acquisition of the Island of Cape Breton opened 
to them the way to Quebec, up the St. Lawrence ; and their 
success to the west, enabled them to direct all their force against 
Canada. Encouraged by this revolution in their affairs, and 
emboldened by the conquests already made, to hope for 
others, the colonies, on the application made to them, through 
JtJieir governors, by Mr, Pitt, prepared vigorously for the ensu- 



STATE OB NEW-YORK. 37 

tng campaign ; but their resources had been so much exhausted 
by past exertions, that they were unable to equal the eflbrts of 
the preceding year. Instead of seven thousand me«, Massachu- 
setts now voted five thousand men, for the service of this year ; 
and the other colonies following her example, diminished their 
quotas, so as to preserve in relation to that of Massachusetts, 
the ratio established at Albany. On a letter from General 
Amherst being laid before the legislature, by the governor, in 
the early part of 1769, complaining of this diminution of zeal in 
the common cause, and requiring an additional number of men 
for the protection of Nova Scotia, and for the purpose of rein- 
forcing the garrison of Louisbourgh, which would be weakened 
by a detachment intended to be taken from it, for an expedition 
up the St. Lawrence, an additional body of one thousand five 
hundred men was voted, and means adopted to raise them. But 
this vote was accompanied by a message to the governor, stat- 
ing the circumstances of the province, and the causes which had 
prevented their bringing into the field for the present campaign, 
a force equal to that which had been furnished the preceding 
year. 

On the seventh of March 1759, the assembly ordered a levy 
of two thousand six hundred and eighty men, being the con- 
tingent of the colony of New- York, of the twenty thousand re- 
quired by the ministry of Great Britain from the American 
colonies. 

For several years the province of New-York had had to raise, 
equip, and support the like number of troops. To equip, sub- 
sist and pay the above troops, the assembly imposed a tax of 
one hundred thousand pounds, equivalent to two hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars. As on former occasions, bills of credic 
were issued immediately in order to meet the exigencies, and 
made payable nine years hence. 

In July of the same year, the legislature enacted, that bills 
of credit, to the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand 
pounds, should be issued for the payment of debts already in- 
curred by the war. The impositions on the province, in the 
space of five months, amounted to six hundred and twenty-five 
thousand dollars. 



38 HISTORY 0P THE 

Among the laws passed at this session, there was one pfo- 
hibiting the sale of lottery tickets, brought into the province. 

Among the reasons for the passage of the law, was this 
one, that the sale of lottery tickets brought into the province, 
was manifestly prejudicial and pernicious to the inhabitants of 
the colony, in as much as it demoralized the good people. This 
nice logical reason would naturally lead most persons to be- 
lieve that the lotteries authorized by the legislature of the pro- 
vince of New-York, were moral, and tended to good habits, 
while those authorized by other provinces had a contrary ten- 
dency. 

After the repulse before Ticonderoga, and the capture of Fort 
Frontenac, General Abercrombie was succeeded in the command 
of the army in North America, by Major General Amherst, who 
had conducted the successful expedition against the Island of 
Cape Breton, and the vast and bold plan was now formed of 
conquering Canada in the course of the ensuing campaign. 

The decided superiority of the British at sea, still prevented 
the arrival of such succors from France as were necessary for 
the security of her possessions in North America, and enabled 
the English, in conjunction with the colonies, to carry their 
plans into effect. 'I'hree expeditions were planed for the 
ensuing campaign. Before we go into a detail of these, it will 
be necessary to explain some steps that were taken previous to 
this campaign. 

]n October of the preceding year, a grand assembly was 
held at Easton, in Pennsylvania, about eighty or ninety miles 
above Philadelphia, and there a peace was established by a 
formal treaty entered into between Great Britain and her col- 
onies, of the one part, and the several nations of Indians inhabit- 
ing between the Alleghany mountains and the lakes, of the 
other part. The Twightwees, or Miamies, settled between the 
river Ohio and Lake Erie, did not assist at this treaty, though 
some steps had been taken towards an alliance with that peo- 
ple. The conferences were managed by the governors of 
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, accompanied by Sir William 
Johnson's deputy for Indian affairs, four mambers of the conn'- 



STATU OP NEW-YORK. .3'9 

cM of Pennsylvania, six members of the assembly, two agents 
for the colony of New-Jersey, a great number of planters and 
citizens of Philadelphia, chiefly quakers. Tiiey were met by 
the deputies and chiefs of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, 
Cayugus, Senecas, Tuscaroras, Nantiocks and Conoys ; the 
Tuteloes, Chugnues, Delawares, Unamies ; the Minisinks, the 
Mohiccons and Wabingas, the whole number including their 
women and children, amounting to five hundred. Some of the 
Six Nations thinking themselves aggrieved by the colonists, who 
had imprisoned certain individnals of their nation, and had killed 
a few, and treated others with contempt, did not fail to express 
their resentment. The Delawares and Minisinks in particular, 
complained that encroachments had been made on their lands, 
and on that account, they had been provoked to hostilities ; 
but their chief, Teedyuscung, had made overtures of peace — 
and in the character of ambassador from all the ten nations, 
had been very instrumental in forming this assembly. The de- 
puties and chiefs of the Agoneaseah, although very well dispos- 
ed, took umbrage at the lead which Teedyuscung took, be- 
cause they claimed dominion over the Delawares, and, there- 
fore, considered it as an assumption of authority for a chief of 
that people to take upon himself an authority, which they ima- 
gined, belonged exclusively to themselves. The deputies who 
attended on the part of Great Britain and the colonies, there- 
fore, had to ascertain the limits of the lands in dispute, reconcile 
the Agoneaseah with the Delawares, and remove every cause of 
misunderstanding between the colonies and the Indians, detach 
them from the French interest, establish a firm peace, and in- 
duce them to exert their influence in persuading the Twight- 
wees, or Miamies, to accede to this treaty. 

The Indians, though circumscribed as to information, in con- 
sequence of their ignorance of letters and the arts, conduct 
themselves in matters of importance to the community, to 
which they belong, by the general maxims of reason and 
justice, and hence their treaties are generally founded upon 
good sense rather than any thing else. Their language con- 
sists of hyperbolical metaphors and similies, which invest it with 



// 



40 HISTORY OF THE 

an air of dignity, and heighten the expression, their style be- 
ing very much like that of the Asiatic nations. They manage 
their conferences by means of wampum, a kind of bead, formed 
of a hard shell, either in single strings or sewed in broad belts, 
of difl'erent dimensions, according to the importance of the sub- 
ject. This wampum is a kind of hieroglyphic represensatioii. 
Every proposition is offered, every answer made, every pro- 
mise corroborated, every declaration attested, and every treaty 
confirmed by producing and interchanging these belts of wan)- 
pum. The conferences were continued from the eighth to the 
twenty-sixth of October, when every article was settled to the 
mutual satisfaction of all parties. The Indian deputies were 
gratified with presents, consisting of looking glasses, knives, 
tobacco boxes, sleeve buttons, thimbles, shears, guns, ivory 
combs, shirts, shoes, stockings, hats, caps, handkerchiefs, 
clothes, blankets, gartering, serges, watch coats, and a few suits 
of laced clothes for their chieftains. To crown their happiness, 
the stores of rum were opened ; they drank themselves into a 
state of brutal intoxication, and next day returned in peace to 
their respective habitations. This treaty with the Indians, in a 
measure, paved the way for the operations which had been pro- 
jected by Great Britain and the colonies, against the French 
settlements in Canada. Instead of employing the whole army 
against one object, it was proposed to divide the forces, and in- 
vade that country at three different places. One division under 
General Wolfe, was to ascend the St. Lawrence and reduce 
Quebec ; another under General Amherst, the cammander-in- 
chief, was to proceed against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, 
and after having taken those places, was to cross Lake Cham- 
plain and descend the Richelieu, or Sorel, to the St. Lawrence ; 
the third, under General Prideaux, was to go against Niagara, 
and after its reduction embark and proceed to the outlet of 
Lake Ontario, descend the St. Lawrence, and join General 
Amherst at Montreal, or some other place in its neighbourhood^ 
as circumstances might admit. 

As the expeditions against Quebec and Niagara were sup- 
posed greatly to depend on the celerity with which the main 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 41 

army sliotild move, General Amherst, in the beginning of win» 
ter, set about ihose preparations, which were incli^pensible to 
the enterprise he was to undertake; and very early in the 
spring transferred his head quarters from the city of New- 
York to Albany, where his troops were assembled by the last 
of May. 

Notwithstanding the continued exertions of the general, the 
summer was far advanced before he could cross Lake tieorge, 
and he did not reach Ticonderoga until the 22d of July, 
although he experienced no opposition, of any consequence, 
from the enemv, because their forces were too smaJJ to defend 
that post, much less to attempt ulterior operations, 

The forces under the immediate command of this general 
exceeded twelve thousand men, the greater part of which were 
Provincials, furnished by the colonies of New-York and New 
England. On the appearanee'of these forces before the linps 
at Ticonderoga, the enemy, the very next day, abandoned the 
fort. This step they were compelled to take, in consequence 
of the feebleness of the garrison, occasioned by the withdrawal 
of the greater part of the troops to Canada, for the purpose pf 
repelling the invasion expected on the side of Quebec. 

The plan of the campaign, on the part of the French, seems 
to have been to delay the invading army, as much as possible, 
by the appearance of defence, but not to hazard any considera- 
ble diminution of their strength, by defending places until they 
should be completely invested, ias to render the retreat of the 
garrison impracticable. The hope seems to have been enter- 
tained, on their part, not without reason, that by retreating from 
post to post, and making a show in their enfeebled state, of iji* 
tending to defend each, the advance of the Anglo America" 
army might be retarded until the season for action on the lakes 
should pass away, while their force would gradually be so con- 
centrated, as to enable them to maintain some poii^t which would 
arrest the progress of the army under Amherst, dowq the St. 
Lawrence to Quebec, In pursuance of this plan, Ticonderoga 
was evacuated, and the garrison retired to Crown Point, ^ep^ 
eral Amherst having taken possession pf this post, which covered 

vol,, ur. 6 



42 HISTORY OF THE 

the frontiers of New York on this side, ordered the works to be 
repaired, and allotted a strong garrison for its defence. This 
acquisition, however, was not obtained without some loss, 
among oihers Colonel Townshend was killed by a cannon shot, 
while reconnoltering the works. 

While Amherst was employed in the repairs of Ticonderoga, 
he received intelligence, about the first of August, that the 
enemy had abandoned Crown Point. He immediately detach 
ed a body of troops to take possession of the place, and on the 
fourth of the same month, proceeded with the main army, and 
landed and encamped at the same place. Here he learned that 
the enemy had retired to the Isle Aux Noix, at the other end of 
Lake Champlain, five leagues south of St. John's ; and that 
their force, encamped at that place, under the command of M. 
de Burlemaque, amounted to .three thousand five hundred effec- 
tive men, and that the lake was occupied by four vessels, mount- 
ed with cannon, and manned with piquets of difierent regiments, 
under the command and direction of M. le Bras, a captain of 
the French navy, assisted by M. de Rigal, and other sea ofiicers. 
In consequence of this information. General Amherst caused 
several vessels of war to be constructed, under the superintend- 
ance of Captain Loring, in order that he might obtain the 
command of the lake. These being completed and equipped, 
the general embarked with the whole army in batteaux, on the 
eleventh of October, and proceeded down the lake some dis- 
tance ; but owing to the tempests which ensued, was obliged to 
return again to Crown Point, and give over the design of pene- 
trating into Canada for the present. In the mean time, he put 
his army into winter quarters, and strengthened the works at 
Crown Point. He also caused a road to be opened from Ti- 
eqnderoga to Massachusetts and New Hampshire, to the end 
that communications might be had with those provinces by 
more direct routs, than by the way of the Hudson and Albany. 
Captain Loring, however, went down the lake and fell in with 
the French naval force, which he defeated and destroyed, 
whereby the command of its waters came into the bands of the 
invaders, i 



STATE OF NLW-YOKK. 43 

111 the beginning of July, General Prideaux, with his troops, 
reinforced by the Indian auxiliaries under Sir Wdliam Johnson, 
advanced to Niagara, without the least hindrance, the enemy 
here not being in sufficient force to throw any impediments m 
the way. About ihe middle of July he commenced the seige, 
which he carried ou wiih great vigour, till the twentieth, wlieii 
he was killed in the trenches. Sir William Johnson, who suc- 
ceeded liirii, pressed tlse seige v.ith great vigour. The enemy 
alarmed with the apprehension of losing a place of such import- 
ance, resolved to make a last effort for its relief. For this 
purpose they assembled about twelve hundred men, drawn from 
Venango, Presque Isle and Detroit, and these, with some Indian 
auxiliaries, were detached under the command of j\1. D'Aubry, 
on an attempt to reinforce the garrison. Sir William Johnson 
having received intelligence of their design, made a disposition 
to intercept them in their march. He accordingly detached a 
considerable body of troops for this service, who, fulling in with 
the enemy very near the lines of the besiegers, a battle was 
fought, which resulted in the entire defeat of the French, with the 
capture of their commander and most of his officers. This bat- 
tle happened the twenty- fourth of July, and was fought in sight 
of the French garrison at Niagara. Sir William Johnson im- 
mediately after sent Maj. Harvey to the commandant of the fort, 
with an order exhorting him to surrender, which being complied 
with, the garrison, consisting of about six hundred men, surren- 
dered prisoners of war. This was the second victory obtained 
in the course of the same war, by Sir William Johnson. Jn 
both, the commanders of the enemy were taken. Very high 
compliments have been passed on Sir William Johnson, chiefly 
because he succeeded without the advantages of a military edu- 
cation. 

In the month of June, General W^olfe sailed with eight thou- 
sand men from Louisbourg for Quebec, and soon after reached 
the island of Orleans, lying in the St. Lawrence, below Quebec, 
where he effected a landing. From this position he was ena- 
bled to take a near view of the obstacles to be surmounted. 
Quebec stands on the north side of the St. Lawrence, and on 



44 HISTORY OF THE 

th6 ^est of the St. Charles, which hitlel* river empties iuto the 
former, immediately beK)W the tonii. Its foriificalions vver^ 
strongi The citj then, and as at this day, consisted of an uj)ptr 
ilnd a lower towti : the latter is built upon the strand, whit h 
stretches along the base ot the lofty rocks on uhich the former 
is situated. The rocks continue with a bold and steep front, 
far to the Westward, parallel to, and near the river St. Law- 
rende.- On this side, the ciiy was deemed tolerably secure : on 
the other, it wds protected, in some measure, by the river St. 
Charles, in which were some armed vessels and floating batte- 
ries. The channel of this river is rough and broken, and its 
borders intersected by ravines. On irs left or eastern bank 
was encamped a French army, of five thousand men. Tlie 
encrtmpment extended from the St. Charles, eastward to the 
fiver Montmorencyj and its rear was covered by a thick wood. 

This army was commanded by M. de Montcalm, who, in the 
course of this war, hud given signal proofs of activity, prudtnce 
and courage. The same general who had taken Oswego and 
Fort Williauj Henry, and wlio had repulsed the army of Aber- 
Crombie at the lines of Ticonderoga, with terrible slaughter. 

From the island of Orleans, General Wolfe detached Briga- 
dier Monckton, with four battalions, to take possession of Point 
Levi, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence, opposite to Que- 
bec. The enemy not being in force, abandoned this post which 
]\Ionckton occupied. This general erected a battery here, 
a:ld bpeued a heavy fire on the city, which destroyed many of 
the buildings, without, iiowever, making any considerable im- 
pression dn the fortificationSi 

The works for the security of the hospital and the stores, oil 
the island of Orleans, being finished, Wolfe crossed the north 
channel of the St. Lawrence in boats, and after landing his 
fdrfces, encamped on the side of the river Montmorency, which 
divided his army from that of the enemy. 

Wolfe used his utmost endeavours to bring the French gen- 
^V^\ to dli engagement, but without efiect. Aware of the im- 
tiortanf;e of bringing the contest to a close at this place, he 
Ifesolved on passing the river, and attacking the French in their 



sTaii: op NUVV^yoKK. 4i 



Intrenchnieuts. In pursuance of this resolution, he ordered one 
division to land near the mouth of the Montmorenc}', and two 
divisions to proceed higher up, and cross that river, but these 
being repulsed, he was obliged to decamp, re-embark his forces, 
and return to the island ot Orleans, after having sustained con- 
siderable losses. 

A council was held, in which it \Vas determined to direct 
their future efforts towards making a landing above the town. 
Immediately after, the camp on the island of Orleans was 
broken up, riid the whole army having embarked on board of 
the fleet, proceeded up the river, where a part was landed at 
Point Levi, and a part higher up. 

Montcalm could not view this movement without alarm. 
That part of Quebec which faces the country, had not been 
fortified Vvith so much care as that which looks towards the 
w ater, and he was apprehensive that a landing might be effected 
high up the river, and the town approached on its weaker side. 
At the same time, he could not safely relinquish his present 
position, because the facility of transporting their troops, which 
the command of the water gave the English, would enable them 
to seiie the ground on which he was now encamped, should 
his army, above the town, not prevent their landing in that 
quarter. Thus embarrassed, he detached M. Bougainville, 
with one thousand five hundred men, to watch the motions of 
tVre English up the river, and prevent their landing. 

In this state of things, a bold plan was formed, well adapted 
to the adventurous spirit of the English general, and the des- 
parate situation of his affairs. This was, to land the troops in 
the night, a small distance above the city on the northern bank 
of the river, and gain by the raorniqg, the heights back of the 
town. 

This bold resolution being taken, the admiral moved up the 
fiver, several leagues above the place where it was designed to 
land, and made demonstrations of an intention to debark a 
body of troops at different places. During the night a strong* 
detachment was put on board the flat bottomed boats, which 
M\ silently down with the tide, to the place fi.x.ed on for the 



4G llIriTORY OF Tlifc: 

descent, whicli was made with equal secrecy and vigour, about 
a mile above Cape Diamond, an hour before day-break. The 
whole ara)y s;oon followed. 

The intelligence lliat the English were in possession of the 
heights of Abram was soon conveyed to M. de Montcalm. He 
comprehended at once the full force of tlie advantage which 
had been gained, and the necessity it imposed on him of chang- 
ing his plan of operations. He perceived that a baule w,is nch 
longer avoidable, and that the fate of Quebec depended on its 
issue. He prepared for it with promptness and courage. Leav- 
ing his strong camp at Montmorency, he crossed the river St. 
Charles, for the purpose of attacking the English array. 

This movement was made in the view of Wolfe, who, without 
loss of time, formed his order of battle. His right wing was 
commanded by General Monckton, and his left by General 
IVlurray. The right flank was covered by the Louisbourg 
grenadiers, and the rear and left by the light infantry of Howe. 
The reserve, consisting of Webb's regiment, drawn up in eight 
sub-divisions, with large intervals between them. 

Montcalm had formed his right and left wing, about equally, 
of Europeans and colonial troops. His center consisted of 
Europeans. 

In this order he marched to the attack, advancing in his 
front about one thousand five hundred militia and Indians. 

The movement of the French, indicating an intention to flank 
his left, Wolfe ordered t!ie battalion of Amherst, with two batta- 
lions of Americans, to that part of his line, when they were form- 
ed under Townshcnd, presenting to the enemy a double front. 

Montcalm had taken post on the left of the French army, 
and Wolfe on the right of the English, so that the two com- 
manders met each other at the head of their respective troops, 
where the battle was most severe. The French advanced 
briskl}' to the charge, and commenced the action with great 
animation. The English are stated to have reserved their fire 
until the enemy were within forty yards of them, when they 
gave it with great efl'ect. It was kept up for some time, when 
Wolfe, advancing at the head of Brngg's and the Louisbourg 



STATE OF KEW-YOUK. 4^ 

grenadiers, with charged bayonets, received a mortal wound, of 
wljich he soon afterwards expired. The command then devolved 
'On Monckton, who soon received a severe wound — Townshend 
took the command. About the same time, Montcalm fighting 
in tlie front of his battalions, received a mortal wound, and 
General Senezergus, the second in command, also fell. The 
left wing and centre of the French began to give way, and 
being pressed close, were driven partly into Quebec and partly 
over the St. Charles' river. On the left and rear of the Eng- 
lish, the anion was less severe. 

Scarcely was the action over, when M. Bougainville, who had 
been detached as high as Cape Rouge, to prevent a landing 
above, and who had hastened to the assistance of Montcalm, 
on his first hearing thai the English hid gained the plains of 
Abram, appeared in the rear witii one thousand five hundred 
men, but he immediately reiired. 

In this decisive battle, in which the numbers seem to have 
been nearly equal, but in which the English had the advantage 
&f- being all disciplined troops, while only about one half of the 
enemy were of the same description, the rest being militia and 
Indians. 

On the part of the English, the killed and wounded were 
about six hundred. The loss on the part of the French was 
much greater. 

Quebec capitulated a few days after, to General Townshend. 
The town, now in the possession of the English, was garrisoned 
by five thousand men, under the command of General Murray. 

The capture of Quebec, and the defeat of the French army, 
seemed to place the remaining possessions of France, in North 
America, within the grasp of the English. Montreal, the only 
place of strength still held by them, was threatened by an army 
vastly superior to that by which it could be defended, and was 
absolutely incapable of being supported by reinforcements from 
Europe, unless Quebec should be recovered. 

In the mean time, the Governor of Canada, and the general 
of the army, made very great exertions to retrieve their affairs, 
and to avert the ruin which threatened them. 



48 ' HISTORY OF THE 

The remaining mrlitary force in the country was collecteslf 
about Montreal, where it was reinforced with six thousand 
Canadian militia, and a body of Indians. M. de Levi, on 
whom the command devolved after the death of Montcalm, 
determined to attempt the recovery of Quebec, before the open- 
ing of the St. Lawrence should put it in the power of the En- 
glish to reinforce the place, and to afford it the protection of 
their fleet. He was rather encouraged to hope for success in 
this enterprise, from the circumstance of his being left in the 
command of the St. Lawrence, in consequence of the British 
ships of war having been withdrawn from that river. 

His first hope had been, that it might be practicable to carry 
the place by a coup-de-main during the winter, but on recon- 
noitering the out-posts, he found them so well secured, and the 
governor and the garrison so much on the alert, that this pro- 
ject was relinquished, until the upper part of the St. Lawrence 
should open and afford a transportation by water for artillery, 
military stores, and heavy baggage. 

In the month of April, these were embarked at Montreal, un- 
der the convoy of six frigates, a naval force with which the 
English were unable to contend, and which sailing down the 
river, while the army marched by land, reached Point au 
Tremble in ten days. 

The garrison, by the severity of the weather and sickness, 
was reduced to about three thousand effective men. 

To avoid, if possible, the hardships and dangers of a seige, 
in a town too extensive to be securely defended by the garrison. 
General Murray took the bold resolution of hazarding a battle. 

Having determined on this measure, he marched out with 
the garrison to the heights of Abram, and with great impetu- 
©sity attacked the French near Sillery. He was received with 
firmness, and soon finding that he made no impression, and 
that dispositions were making by M. de Levi to pass his flanks, 
and to inclose him in such a manner as to render a retreat 
difficult, he was under the necessity of calling off his army and 
retiring into the city. In this disastrous battle, the loss of th© 
JSn^lish was nearly one thousand men. 



!*TA'l'i; OF .NEW-VORR. 49 

Aware ol' tlif value of time, M. de Levi improved to the 
utnio.si ihe victory he had gained. His trenches vv> re opened 
belore the town that very evening, but such was the difficulty 
of bringing up his heavy artillery, that nearly a fortnight elaps- 
ed before he could mount his batteries, and bring his guns to 
bear on the city. By that time General Murray, who had been 
not less indefatigable, had cimpleted some out-works, and 
mounted on his ramparts so formidable a train, that his fire 
was superior to that of the besiegers. The batteries had been 
opened but a very few days before the garrison was relieved 
from its perilous situation, by the arrival of a British fleet in 
the river. 

Every hope of success being extinguished by the arrival of 
the fleet, M. de Levi raised the seige, and retired precipitately 
to Montreal. 

The Marquis de Vaudreuil, governor-general of Canada, 
whose head quarters were at Montreal, called in all his detach- 
ments, and collected round him the strength of the colony, in 
order to resist the storm which threatened to burst upon him. 

In the mean time, General Amherst took the necessary mea- 
sm-es to secure, with the least possible loss, the utter annihilation 
of this remnant of French power in Canada. He determined 
to en'.ploy the whole Anglo American force, now under bis com- 
mand, in the accomplishment of this object ; and measures 
were taken, during the winter, to bring the armies from Quebec, 
Lake Champlain and Lake Ontario, to act against Montreal. 

The commander-in-chief having made the necessary arrange- 
ments for the expedition, proceeded in person, at the head of 
ten thousand men, by the river Mohawk, Oneida l^ake, and the 
river Oswego, to Lake Ontario, where he was joined by Sir 
William Johnson, with about one thousand Indians. He de- 
tached Colonel Haviland with a body of troops from Crown 
Point, to take possession of the Isle Aux Noix, in Lake Cham- 
plain, and from thence, to penetrate, by the shortest way, to the 
bank of the St. Lawrence. 

On the tenth day of August, Amherst embarked his army 
fln board of boats, proceeded to the outlet of Lake Onlarioj 
VOL. nr. "7 



5ii HISTORY OF THE 

and entering the St. Lawrence, descended it to Oswegatchie. 
a distance of sixty miles, where he halted, and sent oui engi- 
neers to reconnoitre the coasts and islands in the vicinity of 
Isle Royale. The enemy had a fortress on this island, which 
commanded the river. He, therefore, made dispositions to in- 
vest it. 

•Bitteries being raised on the nearest islands, the fort was 
caiiiionaded, and dispositions were made for carrying it by 
assault, wl)en Pouchart, the commandant, capitulated. This 
fort is aboui three miles below Ogdensburg. The general 
having left a small garrison, resumed the descent of the St. 
La.vrence, and arrived at the Island of Montreal, on the sixth 
of September, where he immediately debarked his troops, and 
marched two leagues, anfl encamped on a plain before Montreal. 
General Murray, who had been directed to advance by wa- 
ter to the same point, appeared below the town on the same 
day. and effected a landing. 

Colonel Hiviland, who had been detached against the Isle 
Aux Noix, approached from the south. 

The junction of these armies presented a force before Mon- 
treal, to which no effectual resistance could be made, and the 
French governor, M. de Vaudreuil, offered to capitulate. In 
the month of September, Montreal, with all the other j)laces 
possessed by the French, in Canada, were surrendered. 

That colossean power, which France had been so long, and 
with such infinite labour and expense, erecting in America, and 
which menaced, in future, the demolition of the English colo- 
nies, and which sought to restrict them to a comparatively nar- 
row strip of country on the sea coast, and which had been 
the motive for one of the most extensive and desolating wars of 
modern times, was now completely overthrown. The causes 
which led to this interesting event, are to be found in the supe- 
rior wealth and population of the English colonies, over the 
French colonies, and in the superior naval strength which 
Great Britain possessed over France, and which enabled her 
to prevent, or intercept, the supplies sent out by the 1^'reuch 
government. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 91 

The greatest joy was iHfTiised tliroughout the Prltish domini- 
ons by this splendid conquest, which promised to be the great- 
est the nation had ever made. It was mingled with a proud 
sentiment of superiority, which did not estimate with exact jus- 
tice, the relative means employed by the two rival powers. 

But, in no part of those dominions, was the joy felt in a 
higher degree, or with more reason, than in America, The war 
between England and France had assumed, in that region, a 
terriffic form, happily unknown to the other parts of the civil- 
ized world. Not confined, as in Europe, to men in arms — wo- 
men and children had become its common victims. It had 
been carried by the Indians to the fire side of the peaceful peas- 
ants, where the tommahawk and scalping knife, were indiscri- 
minately applied to every age and to every sex. These scenes, 
from which humanity recoils with horror, were now, it was 
fondly hoped, closed for ever. 

The Indians, on the frontiers, no longer excited by two rival 
nations, living on the other side of the ocean, to make war; and 
depending on the English and the colonies alone for supplies, 
would, it was believed, leave them to pursue in perpetual peace, 
those profitable, domestic and agricultural avocations, to which 
a rich, extensive and unsettled country invited them. 

The legislature of the province of New-York, in the winter 
of 1760, directed, that the same number of men should be em- 
ployed to aid in the reduction of Canada, which had been em- 
ployed in 1759. Sixty thousand pounds, payable in eight 
years, were voted to aid in this service. 

An act was passed at the same session, to lay out a road 
from Sterling Iron Works, in the county of Orange, across the 
Highlands to Haverstraw landing, on the Hudson. The enact- 
ment of the latter act is merely noticed to show to the reader 
the regular advances of this State in its early stages. 

At the same session a law was made, to regulate the practice 
of physic and surgery, in the city of New- York. We believe 
that this was ihe first law which the legislature enacted, in 
relation to physic and surgery. By this law no person was 
allowed to practice physic and surgery in the city, belore an 



^2 HISTORY OF IIIL 

examination ; and before such exarninaiion was approved and 
admitted as orthodox, by one of his Majesty's council, the 
judges of the supreme court, the attorney-general, or the mayor 
of the city of New-York, who were all learned in medicine, 
physic, and surgery. Before the passage of this law, which 
calls our involuntary admiration, on account of its wisdom in 
certain respects, every body had a right to practice physic and 
surgery. The profession of a doctor must have been in low 
estimation at that time. Root doctors, herbaceous doctors, 
steam doctors, fascinating doctors, and Indian doctors, who 
were more skilled than all the rest, engrossed most of the prac- 
tice. These could neither blister, bleed, nor set a bone ; ihtir 
skill and knowledge being limited to simple^, compounds, steam 
sweating, and charms. 

James Delancey, Esq. the lieutenant-governor, dying on the 
30lh of July, the command devolved upon Mr. Golden. 

From the severe conflicts of the north, the colonies of South 
Carolina and Georgia had been entirely exempted. As the 
prospect for establishing peace in the north seemed to brighten, 
this state of repose, in the south, sustained a short interruption. 

When driven from Fort du Quesne, the French troops re- 
tired down the Ohio into Louisiana, and employed their address 
io the management of the Indian tribes, not unsuccessfully, in 
drawing the Cherokees from their alliance with Great Britain. 
Their negociations with these people, were favoured by the 
provocations given to their warriors in Virginia, where they 
had been employed against the French and the Indians, in the 
French interest, and probably from not being indulged in a 
licentious predatory spirit, had supposed themselves to be 
treated with neglect, and even with hostility. 

The ill humour excited by these concurring causes, began to 
show itself in J 759; and upon its first appearance. Governor 
Lyttleton prepared to march into the Cherokee country, at the 
head of a respectable military force. Alarmed at the hostile 
preparations which were making, thirty -two of their chiefs were 
^d!^spatcbed to Charleston, for the purpose of deprecating the 
•engaoce with lyhich their nation was threatened. Their pa- 



STATl': OF NEW-VOUK. ^'o 

tific representations did not slop the meditated expedition, bu) 
tliey were taken uito the train of the artny under the pretence 
of secnring- their safe return, where they were in reality confined 
as prisoners under a captain's guard — and after their arrival at 
the place of destination, were shut up together in a single hut. 
This perfidious act of the government of South Carolina was 
warmly, resented by the Cherokees. A temporary treaty, how- 
ever, was made, in wliich the government insisted, and did de- 
tain the chiefs as hostages, until an equal number of those who 
had committed murders on the frontiers, should be delivered in 
exchange for them ; and, in the mean lime, that they shsjuk! 
seize every white or red man, coming into their country, who 
should endeavour to excite them to war against the colonies. 

This treaty, if it can be called such, being made, the gover- 
nor returned to Charleston, leaving the thirty chiefs, (ambas- 
sadors, for such we consider them,) prisoners in Fort Prince 
George. 

Scarcely had the army retired from the frontiers, when the 
Clierokees began to contrive plans for the relief of their chiefs ; 
in the execution of which, the captain of the fort was killed, and 
two inferior officers wounded Orders were immediately given 
to put the chiefs in irons, an indignity so deservedly resented, 
by these unfortunate men, that the first persons who attempted 
to execute the cruel orders, were stabbed, and one of them 
died. Enraged at this manful resistance, the soldiers instantly 
fell on the chiefs and massacred them. Thus were these men, 
who had come in the character of envoys of peace, detained in 
violation of the law of nations, and inhumanly butchered. No 
wonder, then, that their countrymen took up arms to revenge 
their murder. Inflammed to madness by this event, the whole 
nation flew to arms, and vented their fury on the inhabitants of 
the country in indiscriminute slaughter. 

Mr. Bull, the governor of the colony, made every exertion 
to alleviate the calamities already sustained, as well as to re- 
move them. 

Colonel Montgomery, with a detachment of regular troops, 
arrived to their assistance, in the spring of 17G0, This officer, 



5'4 HISTORY OF THE 

with his detachment, and all the force which could be colIecte<l, 
entered the Cherokt^e country, and destroyed all tiieir lower 
towns. Near the town of Etchoe, the first af their middle set-- 
tlements, he was met in a thick wood, by a considerable body 
of the Clierokees, where a severe action was fought. Both 
sides claimed the victory. Montgomery withdrew his army,, 
and retired to Fort Prince George, from whence he prepared 
to embark for New-York. 

The consternation of the province was now extreme, and 
the most serious apprehensions were entertained, that both the 
Creeks and Chactavvs would be induced by the French to raise 
the hatchet. 

The representations made to Colonel Montgomery were so 
pressing, that he permitted four companies of his detachment to 
remain to assist in coverinjir the frontiers. 

Mean lime, the war continued to rage — the Cherokees en- 
compassed Fort Loudoun, the garrison ot whu h consisted of 
two hundred n)en, was compelled by famine to surrender, on 
condition of being permitted to march into the settlements. 
The garrison was attacked on its march, a number of them fell 
on the first fire, and the remainder were made prisoners. Whe- 
ther the Cherokees were impelled to violate the convention, in 
consequence of the murder of their chiefs, or from other causes, 
is not known. 

The war was still carried on with cruel violence on the fron- 
tiers, and General Amherst was again applied to for assistance. 
That general detached Colonel Grant, with a strong detach- 
ment, who arrived late in May, at Fort Prince George. Great 
exertions were made by the colony to raise a body of its own 
troops, and of friendly Indians, to co-operate with the British. 

Early in June, Colontl Grant marched from Fort Prince 
George, for the Cherokee towns. Near the place where the 
action had been fought, in the preceding year, with Mont- 
gomery, the Cherokees assembled, and determined to give bat- 
tle in defence of their country. The action commenced about 
eight in the morning, and was kept up with spirit, until eleven, 
when they began to give way. They were pursued, and a 



STATE OF NKW-YORK. Bo 

Stattering fire kept up for two or three hours, after which Grant 
marched to the town of Etchoe, which he burned. All their 
towns and villages, in the middle settlement, shared the same 
fate. Their houses and their corn-fields were totally destroyed, 
and the whole country laid waste. Reduced to the last extre- 
metiei;, the Cherokees sued for peace, and the war waj in the 
couru' t>f the year terminated by a treaty. 

The preliminary articles of peace, signed between Great 
Britain and France, at Paris, in November 1762, put an entire 
etid to the war in America. 

By this treaty France ceded to Great Britain forever, all 
the conquests made by that power on the continent of North 
America. Jn this treaty the Mississippi was to be the boun- 
dary line between the territories of Great Britain and France, 
in the new world, the latter having renounced all her posses- 
sions on the east side of that river, except the island of New- 
Orleans. And it was agreed, that for the future, the confines 
between the dominions of the two crowns, in that quarter of the 
world, should be irrevocably fixed by a line drawn along the 
middle of the Mississippi, from its source, as far as the river Ib- 
berville and from thence by a line drawn along the middle of 
this river, and of the Lakes Maurepas and Pon» hantrain. 

The legislature of New- York, in April 17(31, directed a levy 
of one thousand seven hundred and eighty men. These were 
employed in garrisoning the fortresses in the province of Cani' 
ada. Provision was made, at the same time, for subsisting, 
paying and clothing them 

The legislature, in March 1762, ordered the like number of 
men to be levied, for the like service. The parliament of Great 
Britain also made some provision for the levies. 

Robert Monckton, Esq. succeeded Mr. Golden in the govern-'- 
ment of the province, on the twenty-fifth of June, 1762. 

In December of the same year, the assembly made provision 
for raising one hundred and seventy men, who were to be sta- 
tioned in the frontier posts. The presidency again devolved 
on Mr. Golden. 

See Colonial Laws, William's History of Vermont, and Marshall's Life of 

Washington. 



»u 



HISTORY OF TIJE 



CHAPTER III. 

SetlUmtnt of Vermont — grants from Aetv Hnmpshire — dis- 
pute between J\eiv-Yoik and Ntiv Hampshire — mbmission — 
decision in favour of Neio-York — abrogation of the New 
Hampshire grants — controversy between Aew-YorJc and the 
settlers — disputes between Great Britain and her American 
colonies — stamp act — mutiny act — proceedings of the assem- 
'"bly thereon — tea act, &c. — proceedings in Massachusetts — 
petition to the King, &c. — tumults at Boston — troops quar- 
tered in Boston — the Duke of Grafton proposes a repeat of 
the duties — difficulties between the people of Boston and the 
troops — insurreciion in North Carolina — tea thrown into the 
sea at Boston — charter of Massachusetts siibvcrted — arbitrary 

''*laws enacted against the people of Massachusetts — arrival of 
General Gage at Boston. 

In 1763, a dispute arose between the provinces of New- York 
and New Hampshire, in relation to the tract of country, now 
denominated Vermont. Tlie first settlement made in this State, 
was in 1724. The government of JMassachusetts then buih Fort 
Dummer, upon Connecticut river, in the southeasterly corner 
of the State. This fort was then supposed to be within the 
province of Massachusetts ; afterwards it was found to be with- 
in the province of New Hampshire. A settlement was made 
in the vicinity of the fort. 

In 1731, theFrdnch advanced up Lake Champlain, and built 
Fort Frederick, opposite to Crown Point. They also made a 
settlement around this fort. These were the first settlements in 
Vermont. Neither prospered or enjoyed much security till 
after the reduction of Canada. 

The lands, however, along^ Connecticut river, offered so 
many inducements, in consequence of their extreme fertility, that 
many of the people of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, io 



STATE OF Nt'.W-YORK. 57 

order to better their condiiion and increase their fortunes, re*- 
solved to settle them. It was generally imagined that they lay 
within the limits of the former province. The applicaUons 
were made to the government of New Hampshire for the pur- 
chase. The governor encouraged these applications, and con- 
ferred many grants. 

The provinces of New Hampshire and Massachusetts hsd a 
long controversy about their divisional line, which was refer- 
red to George the Second, for a final decision. On the fifth of 
March, 1740, his Majesty determined that the northern boun- 
dary of the province of Massachusetts be a similar curve line, 
pursuing the course of Merrimack river, at three miles distance 
on the north side thereof, beginning at the Atlantic ocean, and 
ending at a point due north of Patucket Falls, and a straight 
line drawn from thence due west, until it meets with his Majes- 
ty's other governments. This line was run in 1741, and has 
ever since been the boundary between New Hampshire and 
Massachusetts. By this decision, and the establishment of this 
line, the government of New Hampshire concluded that their 
jurisdiction extended as far west as Massachusetts had claiuied, 
that is, within twenty miles of the Hudson. Under this conclu- 
sion, Beiming VVentworth, the governor, made a grant of a 
township six miles square, situated twenty miles easiwardly of 
Hudson's river, and six miles north of the Massachusetts line. 
During the four or five years which followed, he made several 
other grants on the'W^st side of Connecticut river. 

In 1755, war commenced between Great Britain and France, 
which put a stop to the applications and grants. The conquest 
of Canada in 1760, closed the war in these parts. In the course 
of the war the colonial forces of New England opened a road 
from Charlestown, in New Hampshire, to Crown Point. This 
road crossed the whole country, nearly trom south-east to north- 
west. In 1761, many adventurers and speculators turned their 
attention to the lands comprised within, what is now called, 
Vermont. The governor of New Hampshire ordered a survey 
to be made on both sides of Connecticut river, for sixty miles. 
Three tiers of townships were laid out on each side* The ap- 

VOL. ur. 8 



58 IIISTOKV Oh THE 

plication for lands increased and new surveys were made. So 
rapid was the progress, that during the year 1761, not less than 
sixty townships, of six miles square, were granted on the west 
side of the river. The whole number of grants in the years 1 762 
and 1763, amounted to one hundred and thirty; and their ex- 
tent was from Connecticut river westwardly to within twenty 
miles of Hudson's river, so far as that extended northwardly, 
and after that as far west as Lake Charaplain. The number 
of settlers was very considerable. 

The government of the province of New-York, towards the 
close of the year 1763, on being apprised of these proceedings, 
took measures for the purpose ot asserting its claims. These 
were founded upon the rights of the Dutch, the original settlers 
of New-York, and upon a grant made in the year 1664, by 
Charles the Second, and confirmed by another in 1674, to his 
brother the Duke of York. The latter grant contained, among 
other parts of America, " all the lands from the west side of 
Connecticut river to the east side of Delaware bay." 

To check the encroachments of the government of New 
Hampshire, and to stop intruders, Cadwallader Colden, the 
lieutenant-governor of the province of New-York, issued a 
proclamation, on the twenty-eighth day of December, 1763, 
reciting the grants of the states-general, the cession to Great 
Britain, and the grant to the Duke of York, and its subsequent 
confirmation, and asserting their validity, and claiming the ju- 
risdiction and territory eastwardly tO)^<?nnecticut river, and 
commanding the sheriff of the county of Albany to make return 
of the names of all persons who, under colour of the New Hamp- 
shire grants, had taken possession of any lands on the west side 
of the said river. The governor of New Hampshire issued a 
counter proclamation, on the thirteenth of March, 1764, de- 
claring the grant to the Duke of York, and all others, obsolete; 
that New Hampsliire claimed as far west as Massachusetts and 
Connecticut ; and that the grants made by New Hampshire 
would be confirmed, if the jurisdiction should be restricted. 
The inhabitants were directed to remain on their lands, and the 
magistrates were commanded to exercise jurisdiction as far 
westward as grants had been made. 



STATE OF NFW-Y01>K, 59 

Upon this collision, the government of New-York made ap- 
plication to the King of Great Britain, representing all the facts 
in relation to liiie and intrusions, for a determination : on the 
twentieth of July, 1764, his Mnjesty decided that the western 
bank of Connecticut river, from whtre it enters the province of 
Massachusetts, as far northerly as latitude forty-five, should, for 
the future, be the boundary line between the provinces of New- 
York and New Hampshire. 

Thus the province of New-York became possessed of the 
whole territory, and might still, had her rulers been actuated 
by moti\es of conciliation and good policy. The settlers had 
no idea of disputing its jurisdiction or opposing its laws, but 
the rulers were not contented with jurisdiction; they wished to 
vacate the grants made by New Han)pshire and deprive the 
settlers of their lands. In the award which his Majesty made, 
there was no provision in respect to the lands taken up and im- 
proved. A law was passed by the colonial legislature vacating 
all the New Hampshire grants. The territory of Vermont was 
divided into four counties; the southwestern part was annexed 
to the county of Albany, the northwest was formed into a coun- 
ty by the name of Charlotte. On the east side of the principal 
chain of the Greene mountains, two counties were erected, Cum- 
berland on the south and Gloucester to the north. The settlers 
were required to surrender their charters, which they had received 
from the government of New Hampshire, and to take out new 
grants. Some complied, but the greater number refused. The 
lands of those who refused to comply were granted to pension- 
ers and favourites of government. Possession was demanded of 
them, but the occupants and rightful owners would not surren- 
der them. Actions were brought and recoveries had. The 
sherifl' was sent to deliver possession, but the inhabitants resist- 
ed, and drove him away. The governor of the province of 
New-York ordered out a detachment of the militia oi the county 
of Albany, to aid the sherili" in the execution ol the law. The 
owners of the lands assembled and entered into associations, in 
order to oppose the carrying the recoveries into effect. The 
militia ordered out marched with reluctance, and upon the ap- 



QQ HISTORY OF THE 

pearance of an armed opposition, abandoned the slieriir, and re- 
turned home. 

The course pursued by the militia encouraged the settlers, 
and their opposition became more general and determined. 
Great outrages were committed oti some of the i\ew-York offi- 
cers, and certain persons that assisted them ; several on both 
sides were wounded. JNo process could be served, nor could the 
sentence of any court be carried into effect. The purchasers 
under the government ol New-York, however, continued to 
bring suits tor the lands, and to make recoveries. The most 
active leaders among the Vermonters were indicted at Albany. 
Among these was Ethan Allen, who afterwards signalized him- 
self by the taking ol Ticonderoga and Crown Point. This 
man was the principal and headed the settlers ; of a bold and 
enterprising disposition, he directed all their concerns. In 
order to strengthen the cause in which he was engaged, he 
wrote and distributed pamphlets ; in these he laboured, and not 
without success, to show that the course pursued by the govern- 
ment of IN ew- York was impolitic and unjust. Meetings were 
every where held and resolutions adopted. The government 
of New-York at first stigmatized these meetings with the epi- 
thets of riots and mobs. As the controversy increased, and the 
opposition became more formidable, the settlers were charged 
with treason and rebellion. 

In this state of things, an officer attempted to take Seth 
■Warner, a leader who ranked next to Allen, but failed. A 
i-encounter ensued— both were armed : Warner beat, wounded, 
and deprived the officer of his arms, and compelled him to re- 
tire. This is the Warner who afterwards distinguished himself 
in the revolutionary war. 

The settlers, apprehensive that the government of New-York 
would in the end prevail, and that they would lose their lands, 
sent three agents to Great Britain, with instructions to lay their 
situation before the King, and implore his protection and deci- 
sion. An inquiry was had, and the government of New- York 
was directed to suspend all j)rocecdings, and enjoined not to 
make any more grants within the disputed district. But little 
attention was paid tu the royal mandate. 



STATE OP NF.\V-YORK. 61 

In 1772, Mr. Tryon, the governor, attempted to conciliate the 
minds ol the inhabiiaiits ; he invited them to lay before him 
their grievances, and the causes which had led to them, and gave 
assurances to them that both he and the council were disposed 
to afford them relief in case their situation required it. The 
settlers had a nueting, and deputed three of their body to go 
to New- York and confer with his excellenc}'. These repaired 
thither, and waited upon the governor and council, and laid 
their grievances before them. The council recommended that 
all prosecutions in behalf of the crown be stayed until the plea- 
sure of his Majesty should be known. They also recom- 
mended to the governor, tha^ he should advise the proprietors 
of grants under New-York, to put a stop to all civil suits during 
the same period. But these measures, although they served for 
a time to allay, did not quiet the fears of the inhabitants ; the 
governor could recommend, but could not enforce his recom- 
mendations. The whole property of the settlers was at stake. 

While things remained in this state of suspense, the legisla- 
ture of the province of New- York passed a law, that in case 
the offenders should not surrender themselves, pursuant to such 
orders of the governor to be made in council, within the space 
of seventy days after the first publication, shall, from the day 
to be appointed for his or their surrendery, should be deemed 
to be guilty of felony, and should, on conviction, suffer death, 
without benefit of clergy. All crimes committed on the grants, 
by this act, were to be tried in the county of Albany. At the 
same time the governor issued a proclamation, offering a re- 
ward of fifty pounds a-head for the apprehension of Allen, 
and Warner, and six others. 

These arbitrary measures were illy calculated to ease and 
quiet the minds of the settlers, or to restore harmony and peace 
to the province. Meetings were immediately got up in the 
different towns on the west side of the Greene mountains, and 
committees were chosen These assembled, and after forming 
a league, passed a resolution, " that for the future every neces- 
sary preparation be made, and that every man capable of bear- 
ing arms, should hold himself in readiness, at a moment's warn- 



62 HISTORY OF THE 

ing, to march and defend those who had been proscribed, iti 
case an attempt should be made to take them ; and also to op- 
pose the execution of tlie law, so far as it respected (he putting 
of the New-York speculators into possession." 

Matters having come to this crisis, measures were resorted to 
in order to shake oft' the government of New- York, which, in 
this afifiiir, seemed to have little else in view than the further- 
ance of the interests of dependants and speculators. For this 
purpose, Colonel Philip Skeen, the commander of one of the 
King's regiments, and a man of consideration, who had not as 
yet espoused the cause of the settlers, was dispatched to the 
court of Great Britain, in order to get the disaffected district 
set off into a province independent of New-York. He, il ap- 
pears, met with encouragement. An event, in the mean time, 
occurred on the thirteenth day of March, 1775, which served 
still further to widen the breach and exasperate all parlies. 
The court in Cumberland county was to have been holden at 
Westminster; on that day many of the intiabitants of that and 
the adjacent towns assembled in a tumultuous manner, broke 
into the court-house at an early hour, and took possession. 
The judges being refused admittance, returned to their quar- 
ters. The people kept possession the whole day. In the even- 
ing the sheriff and the officers of the court, attended with an 
armed force, went to the court-house, and ordered them to clear 
out in a peaceable manner, and yield up possession, but they 
refused ; whereupon some of the party fired into the court-house, 
and killed one man and wounded some others. They there- 
upon left the house, and the sheriff took possession. The day 
after, however, they assembled in greater numbers, dispossessed 
llie court, and seized several of the officers, whom they carried 
to the jail at Northampton in Massachusetts. But they were 
released shortly after by the chief justice, and returned home. 
Highly inflamed by this event, the committees of a large body 
of the settlers met at Westminster on the eleventh of April, 1775, 
and, among other measures, they came to the following re- 
solve : " that it is the duty of the inhabitants wholly to renounce 
and resist the government of the province of New-York, until 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 63 

such times as tlieir lives and property may be secured, or until 
such time as they lay their grievances before his Majesty in 
council, and obtain his decision." Such was the situation of this 
part of the province of New-iork at the time the revolution 
cotuuienced. 

This occasioned a temporary suspension of the controversy, 
and for a while moderated the passions already elicited. All 
seemed inient in defending the country against Great Britain. 
Jn the autumn of 1755, some of the leaders repaired to Phila- 
delphia, where Congress was then sitting, in order to see whe- 
ther that body would not admit the contested district into the 
union, as a component part of the Fredish confederacy ; but 
that body, from a respect to the State of New- York, and 
from a consciousness, which was misplaced, that its government 
would be actuated by considerations of justice, as well as of 
generosity and policy, declined the overture, and recommended 
to them submission to the laws. 

In treating of the controversies between New-York and "Ver- 
mont, we have supposed that it would be better to give them 
separately, without blending them along with other matters. 
To this end we have divided the whole into three parts. The 
first embraces the time before the revolution ; the second dur- 
ing the revolution ; and the third since the revolution. 

In consequence of the hostile attitude of some of the more 
distant tribes of Indians, the legislature of the colony of New- 
York, in the month of December, 1763, ordered that eight hun- 
dred men should be raised and stationed at Schoharie and 
Cherry Valley, for the purpose of preventing those settlements 
from being invaded and laid waste. Those Indian tribes, how- 
ever, on being apprised of preparations being made to resist 
them, and carry the war into their country, in (:ase the exigen- 
cy should require it, settled down into a calm. 

The house, in April following, voted, that one hundred and 
eighty men should be levied in addition to the foregoing. 
These, we believe, were never raised, on account of the pacific 
disposition of the Indians. 

1763 — At no period of time was the attachment of the colonie= 



64 HISTORY OF THE 

to the mother country more strong than at present. The war 
just conchided, had deeply interested every part of the conti- 
nent. Every colony had been engaged in it, and most had lelt 
its ravages. The introduction of the Aborigines as auxiliary 
ies, had greatly increased its horrors, and had added lo the 
joy produced in every bosom, by its auspicious termination. 

This state of things, so long and anxiously wisfied tor by the 
Anglo American colonies, had at length been affected by t\\€ 
union of liritish and American valour. They had co-operated 
in the same service, and their blood had mingled in the same 
fields. 

The British nation was endeared to the American people, by 
this community of danger and idmiiiy of interest. The Ame- 
ricans were proud of the land of their ancestors, and gloried 
in their descent from Englishmen. But this sentiment of ad- 
miration was not confined to the miliiary character of thai na- 
tion. A full share of it was bestowed on hi political institu- 
tions; and while the excellence of the English constitution was 
a rich theme of declamation, every man believed himself en- 
titled to a large share of its advantages, nor could he admit 
that by crossing the ocean, his ancestors had relinquished the 
rights of Englishmen. 

The degree of authority which might rightfully be exercised 
by the mother country over her colonies, had never been accu- 
rately defined. In England, it had always been asserted that 
Parliament possessed the po.ver of binding them in all cases. 
In America, at different times and in different colonies, various 
opinions had been entertained on this subject- 
In New England, originally settled by republicans, and du* 
ring the depression of the regal government in England, habits, 
of independence had cherished the theory, that the colonial 
assemblies possessed all the powers of legislation, not surren- 
dered by compact ; that the Americans were subjects of the 
crown, but not of the nation ; and were bound by no laws to 
which their representatives had not assented. From this high 
ground they had been compelled reluctantly to recede. The 
judges being appointed by the governors, with the advice of 



STATE OP NKW-YORK. 65 

council, had determined that the colonies were bound by acts 
of Parliament which concerned them, and which were expressly 
extended to them. 

In the year 1692, immediately after the receipt of their new 
charter, granted by William and Mary, the assembly of Massa- 
chusetts had passed an act, denying most explicitly the right of 
any authority, other than that of the general court, to impose 
on the colony any tax whatever; and also asserting those prin* 
ciples of national liberty, which are founded in magna charta. 
Not long after, the assembly of New-York passed an act simi- 
lar to that of Massachusetts, in which its own supremacy, not 
only in matters of taxation, but of general legislation, is ex- 
pressly asserted. Both these acts, however, were disapproved 
in England, and the Parliament asserted its authority, by a law 
passed in 1696, declaring that all laws, by-laws, usages and 
customs which shall be in practice in any of the plantations, 
repugnant to any law made, or to be made in this kingdom, 
relative to the said plantations, shall be void and of none effect. 

In the middle and southern colonies no question respecting 
the supremacy of Parliament, in matters of general legislation, 
fevery existed. But even these colonies, however they might 
acknowledge the supremacy of Parliament in other respects, 
denied the right of that body to tax them internally. 

A scheme for taxing the colonies by authority or Parliament 
had been formed so early as the year 1739, and recommended 
to government, by a club of American merchants, at the head 
of whom was Sir William Keith, governor of Pennsylvania. 
This plan, however, was not countenanced by the then minis- 
ter, and seems never to have been seriously taken up until the 
year 1754. Some of the colonies themselves, appear to have 
wished that a mode would be adopted which should combine 
their exertions, and equitably apportion their expenses in the 
common cause. The attention of the minister was then turned 
to a plan of taxation by authority of Parliament ; and it will be 
recollected that a system was devised, and recommended by 
him as a substitute for the articles of union, digested and agreed 
on by the convention at Albany. Means were used to ascer- 

vof,. III. 



6& UISTORV OF THE 

tain the temper and opinions of ilie colonists on this subjccl. 
The impolicy of irritating them at a crisis which required all 
the exertions they were capable of making, furnished motives 
sufficient to induce a suspension, for the present, of a measure 
so delicate and so dangerous, but it seems not to have been 
totally abandoned. This total opposition of opinion, on a sub- 
ject the most interesting to the human heart, was now about to 
produce a system of measures which tore asunder all the bonds 
of relationship and affection which had for ages subsisted. 

The assembly in 1764, passed an act for the settlement of 
the partition line between the provinces of New-York and Mas- 
sachusetts. 

The system which had been laid aside, was renewed, and on 
the motion of Mr. Grenville, the first commissioner of the trea- 
sury, a resolution passed without much debate, importing that 
it would bs proper to impose certain stamp duties in the colo^ 
nies and plantations. This resolution was not carried into im- 
mediate effect. 

At the same time other resolutions passed, laying new duties 
on the trade of the colonies — great disgust was occasioned by 
the increase of the duties by the new regulations which were 
made, and by the manner in which those regulations were to be 
executed. Completely to prevent smuggling, as it was alleged, 
all the officers in the sea-service, who were on the American 
station, were appointed revenue officers, and directed to take the 
custom-house oaths. Being unacquainted with the custom- 
house laws and usages, many vexatious seizures were made, for 
which no redress could be obtained but in England. 

The resolution concerning the duties on stamps, excited a 
great ferment in America. The right of Parliament to impose 
taxes on the colonies became a subject of universal conversation, 
and was almost universally denied. Petitions to the King, and 
memorials to both houses of Parliament against the measure, 
were transmitted by several of the Provincial assemblies, to the 
board of trade in England, to be presented to his Majesty, and 
to Parliament, when that body should again be convened. The 
house of assembly of Massachusetts, instructed its agent to use 



STATE OF NLW-VORK. 67 

his utinost endeavours lo obtain a repeal of the late act of Par- 
liament respecting the duties, and to prevent the passage of the 
stamp act, or any other act levying taxes or impositions of any 
kind on the colonics. A commiitee was appointed to act in the 
recess of the general court, with instructions to correspond with 
the assemblies of the respective colonies, to communicate to 
them the instructions given to their agent, and to solicit their 
concurrence in similar measures. These legislative proceed- 
ings were, in many places, seconded by associations entered 
into by individuals, for diminishing the use of British manufac- 
tures. 

Tiie administration informed the agents of the colonies in 
London, that if they would propose any other mode of raising 
the sum required, their proposition would be accepted, and the 
stamp duty laid aside. The sum proposed by the stamp duty 
was $440,000. 

The agents replied, that they were not authorised to propose 
a substitute, but were ordered to oppose the bill when it should 
be brought into the house by petition, questioning the right 
claimed by Parliament to tax the colonies. The controversy 
was now placed on ground which seemed to admit of no 
compromise. 

17G5. — The right of taxation was denied by one party and 
asserted by the other. Determined to persevere in the system 
he had adopted, and believing successful resistance absolutely 
impossible, Mr. (Jrenville brought into Parliament his cele- 
brated act, for imposing stamp duties in America, and it pass- 
ed both houses by very great majorities, but not without ani- 
mated debates. General Conway stood alone in denying the 
right claimed by the British Parliament to give away the money 
of those who were not represented in that body. 

The arguments of the minority, on this interesting occasion, 
were unusually ardent. The claim was declared by the minority 
to be opposite to the spirit of the Knglish constitution, which 
luis established, as a fundamental axiom, that taxation and repre- 
sentation are inseparable ; and that as the colonies were not re- 
presented in Parliament, it would be the very essence ot tyranny 



68 mSTORY OF TUL 

to attempt to exercise an authority over them, which, iVom its 
nature, must inevitably lead to gross abuse. 

The measure' was treated not only as tyrannical, but as un- 
necessary also. America, it was said, had never been deficient 
in contributing her full proportion towards the expenses of the 
wars iij which, conjointly with England, she had been involved ; 
.and that in the course ol'the last memorable contest, large sums 
had been repeatedly voted by the colonies, for exertions, and 
which, it must be conceded, were disproportionate to their 
means and resources. 

Mr. Grenville had concluded a long argument in favour of 
the bill, with saying, these children of our planting, nourished 
by our indulgence, until they are grown to a good degree of 
strength and opulence, and protected by our arms, will they 
grudge to contribute their mite to relieve us from the heavy load 
of national expense w'nich we lie under.' In answer to this ob- 
servation, Colonel Barre exclaimed, " Children planted by 
your care" — No ! your oppression planted them in America — 
they fled from your tyranny into a then uncultivated land, 
wliere they were exposed to all the hardships, to which human 
nature is liable ! " They nourished by your indulgence .'" 
No ! they grew by your neglect. When you began to care 
about them, that care was exercised in sending persons to rule 
over them, who were the deputies of some deputy, sent to spy 
out their liberty, to tiiisrepresent their actions, and to prey 
upon them — men whose behaviour, on many occasions, has 
caused the blood of ihoje sons of liberty to recoil witiiin them — 
men promoted to the highest seats of justice, some of whom 
were glad, by going to a foreign country, to escape being 
brought to tiie bar of justice in their own. " They protected 
by your arms ? They have nobly taken up arms in your de- 
fence; have exerted tlieir valour for the defence of a countr}-, 
the interior of which, while its frontiers were drenched in blood, 
has yielded its little savings to your enlargement. Believe me, 
remember, I this day told you so — the same spirit which actu- 
ated that people at first, still continues with them ; but prudence 
forbids rae to explain myself further, 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 6k9 

The passage of this act, the operation of which, was to com- 
mence on the first of November, excited throughout the colo- 
nies, serious and universal alarm. It was believed to strike at 
the constitution of the country, and to destroy the sacred prin- 
ciples of liberty. Combinations against its execution were 
every where formed, and the utmost exertions were used to 
render, as diffusive as possible, a knowledge of the pernicious 
consequences, which must flow from admitting that America 
could be taxed by a legislature in which she was not represented. 
The assembly of Virginia was in session when the intelli- 
gence was received. The subject was taken up, and by a small 
majority, several resolutions which had been introduced by Mr. 
Henry, and seconded by Mr. Johnson, were agreed to, one of 
which asserted the exclusive right of tlie assembly to lay taxes 
and impositions on the inhabitants of diat colony, and that every 
attempt to vest such a power elsewhere is illegal, unconstitu- 
tional and unjust, and has a manifest tendency to destroy Ame- 
rican freedom. 

On the passage of these resolutions, the governor dissolved 
the assembly. 

The legislatures of several other colonies passed similar re- 
solutions, and the house of representatives of Massachusetts, 
contemplating a still more solemn and effectual expression of 
the general sentiment, recommended a congress of deputies 
from all the colonial assemblies, to meet at the city of New- 
York, on the first Tuesday of October, in the same year, to 
consult together on the present circumstances of the colonies, 
and the difiiculties to which they are, and must be reduced by 
the operation of the acts of Parliament. Circular letters, sign- 
ed by the speaker, communicating this recommendation, were 
addressed to the several speakers of the respective assemblies, 
and wherever they were in session, the recommendation was 
acted on. New Hampshire alone declined sending members 
to the Congress. None attended from Virginia and North 
Carolina, the legislatures of those colonies not being in session. 
In the mean time, the papers teemed with the most animat- 
ing exhortations to the people, to unite in the defence of their 



•70 HISTORY OF THE 

liberty and property. The stamp officers almost every where 
were compelled to resign. 

October, 1765. — At the time appointed, the commissioners 
from the assemblies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecti- 
cut, New York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary- 
land, and South Carolina, assembled at the city of New-York ; 

■ and Timothy Ruggles, Esquire, of Massachusetts, having been 
chosen their chairman, they proceeded on the important objects 
for which they had convened. The first measure of the con- 
gress was a declaration of the rights and grievances of the co- 
lonists. This paper asserts them to be entitled to all the rights 

•and liberties of natural born subjects, within the kingdom of 
Great Britain; among the most essential of whirh, are the ex- 
clusive power to tax themselves, and the privilege of a trial by 

The grievance most complained of, was the act granting 
certain stamp duties, and other duties in the colonies, the direct 
tendency of which they said, by taxing the colonists without 
tlieir consent, and by extending the jurisdiction of courts of 
admiralty, v/as to subvert their rights and liberties. 

A petition to the King was agreed on, together with a me- 
morial to each house of Parliament. 

These papers were drawn with temper and firmness. They 
express the attachment of the colonies to the mother country, 
and assert the rights they claim. 

In addition to these measures, Congress recommended to the 
several colonies to appoint special agents, who should unite 
their utmost endeavours in soliciting redress of grievances ; 
and, having directed their clerk to make out a copy of their 
proceedings for each colony, they adjourned. 

To interest the people of England against the measures of 
administration, associations were formed in every part of the 
continent, for tiie encouragement of domestic manufactures, and 
against the use of those imported from Great Britain. 

In New-York and Connecticut, originated an association of 
persons, styling themselves the sons of liberty, who bound them- 
selves, among other things, to march to any part of the conli- 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 71 

nent to support the British constitution. A corresponding com- 
mittee was established, who corresponded with conspicuous 
men throughout the colonies, and contributed materially to in- 
crease the spirit of opposition. 

Sir Henry Moor, Esq. fbperseded Mr. Colden in the govern- 
nrient of the province of New-YorU, on the twelfth of November, 
1765. 

Among the acts passed this year, and in the one following, 
the legislature passed several for improving certain roads 
already opened, and for laying out and opening of others. 
The roads that were to be laid out and opened, were in the then 
counties of Albany and Cumberland. 

While these tran-sactions were taking place in America, a 
revolution happened in the British cabinet. The Grenville ad- 
ministration was succeeded by one unfriendly to a further pro- 
secution of the plan for taxing the colonies without their con- 
sent. General Conway, now one of the principal members of 
the cabinet, addressed a circular letter to the different governors 
of the colonies, recommending to them to observe a temperate 
and conciliatory conduct towards the colonists, and to endea- 
vour, by persuasive means, to restore public peace. 

January 14, 1766- — Parliament was opened by a speech from 
the King, in which, among other things, he recommended to 
them to restore that harmony and peace between the colonies 
and mother country, which had been lately interrupted. 

In the course of the debate, in the house of commons, on the 
motion for the address, Mr. Pitt, in explicit terms, condemned 
the act for collecting the stamp duties in America, and declared 
his opinion to be, that Parliament had no right tojtax the co- 
lonies. He concluded, by recommending to the house the re- 
peal of the stamp act. 

Mr. Grenville, in opposition, said, that tbe disturbances in 
America were grown to tumults and riots ; he doubted not they 
bordered on open rebellion ; and if the doctrine he had heard 
that day should be confirmed, he feared they would lose that 
name to take that of revolution. The government over them 
being dissolved, a revolution, he said, would take place in 



72 HISTORY OF THE 

America. He couteuded, tliat taxation was a part of (be sove- 
reign power — one branch of the leg^islation ; and had been ex- 
ercised over those who were not represented. 

The existing administration concurred in sentiment with Mr, 
Pitt, and the act was repealed ; but ift repeal was accompanied 
with a declaratory act, asserting the power and right of Great 
Britain to bind the colonies in all cases whatever. 

The joy in America, on receiving intelligence of this event., 
was unbounded. 

Although the sentiment of joy produced by the repeal of the 
stamp act was common to all the colonies, the same temper did 
not prevail in all of them. 

The first measures of Massachusetts and New-York demon- 
strated, that the reconciliation with the mother country was not 
cordial. 

The letter of General Couwaj', secretary of state, already 
mentioned, inclosed a resolution, declaring that those persons' 
who had suffered any injury or damage, in consequence of their 
assisting to execute the late act, should be compensated by the 
colonies. This gave offence, and tended to irritate. 

In New-York, where General Gage was expected, with a con- 
siderable body of troops, a message was transmitted by the go- 
vernor to the assembly, desiring their compliance with an act of 
Pai'liament, called the mutiny act, which required that the co- 
lony, in which any of the King's forces might be stationed, 
should provide for them barracks, and certain necessaries in 
their quarters. The assembly postponed the consideration of 
this message until the troops had actually arrived, and then, 
after a second message, reluctantly and partially complied with 
the requisitions of the act. 

At a subsequent session, the governor brought the subject 
again before them, when they determined that the act of Par- 
liament could only be construed, to require that they should 
provide necessaries for troops on a march, and not while per- 
manently stationed in their country, because, on a contrary 
construction the colony might be grievously burdened by march- 
ing into it several regiment?. 



m 



STATK OF NEW- YORK. 73 

1767. — The itl^'a of raising- a revenue in America was highly 
tavoured in Enyhind by ilie landed interest. 

The temper now discovered in some of the c(donies, was by 
no means calculated lo assuage ihe wound which this mea- 
sure had inflicted on the rulers of that countr}', and is supposed 
to have contributed to the revival of a system which had been 
reluctantly abandoned. 

A bill had been decided on in the cabinet, for imposing cer- 
tain duties on tea, paper, glass, and painters' colours, imported 
into the colonies from Great Britain. This bill was now 
brought into Parliament, and passed almost without opposition. 

Tlie present duties were plainly intended not to regulate 
commerce, but to raise a revenue, which would be as certainly 
collected Irom the colonists, as the duties on the stamps could 
have been. The principle was the same in the one case as in 
the other. The san)e object was in view. The Americans 
saw its operation and force. 

With these sentiments concerning it, it was not strange that 
a determination was made to oppose its execution. 

Jan. 7, 1768. — The general court of Massachusetts met in 
December, and very early in the session, took under their con- 
sideration, several acts of Parliament, which, during the re- 
cess, had been transmitted to the colony. They perceived 
plainly that the claim to tax America was revived ; and they 
determined, to oppose it with all the means in their power, 

A very elaborate letter was addressed to Dennis de Bert, 
agent for the house of rcpreseiitatives, in which are detailed at 
great length, and with much weig-ht of argument, all the objec- 
tions to be made to the late acts of Parliament. Letters sign- 
ed by the speaker, were also addressed to the Earl of Shel- 
burne and General Conway, secretaries of state ; the Marquis 
of Rockingham, Lord Cambden, the Earl of Chatham, and 
the lords commissioners of the treasury. These letters, while 
they breathe a spirit of ardent attachment to the J^ritish con- 
stitution, .and the nation, manifest a perfect conviction that their 
coniplaints were just. 

A petition to the King was also agreed on, replete with pror- 

VOL. III. 10 



74 HISTORY OF THK 

fessions of loyalty, but stating in very explicit terms, the Sense 
they entertained of the acts against which they petitioned 

After the petition to the King had been voted, a day was 
appointed to take under consideration the propriety of address- 
ing their slsler colonies, but it was lost. The question was 
afterwards reconsidered and carried. 

A circular letter to the assemblies of the respective colonies, 
stating the proceedings of the house of representatives of Mas- 
sachusetts, was then agreed to. 

This circular letter was well received in the other colonies. 
They generally approved the measures of the opposition which 
had been taken, and readily united in them. They too peti- 
tioned the King against the obnoxious acts of Parliament, and 
instructed their several agents to use all proper means to ob- 
tain their repeal. 

1768 — On the first intimation of the measures taken by Mas- 
sachusetts, the Earl of Hillsborough, who had been appointed 
about the close of the year 1767, to the then newly created 
office of secretary of state, for the department of the colonies, 
addressed a circular letter to the several governors, to be laid 
by them, before the assemblies of their respective colonies, 
in which he treats the circular letter of Massachusetts, as being 
of the most dangerous and factious tendency, calculated to 
indame the minds of his Majesty's good subjects in the colonies, 
to promote an unwarrantable combination, to excite and en- 
courage an open opposition to, and denial of the authority of 
Parliament, and to subvert the true principles of the constitu- 
tion ; and he einleavoured to prevail with them, to treat, with 
a proper resentment, what he termed, such an unjustifiable 
attempt to revive those distractions which had operated so fa- 
tally to the prejudice of the colonies, and of the mother country. 

Far from producing the desired effect, this letter of the Earl, 
rather served to strengthen the determination of the colonies to 
unite in their endeavours for the purpose of obtaining a repeal 
of the laws ; and they declared that they could not consider as 
an unwarrantable combination, a concert of measures, to give 
weight and efficacy to their representations, in support of prin- 



STATE OF NKW-VORK. 75 

dples, tliey deemed essential to the preservation of the British 
constitution, and of British liberty. ♦ 

When the general court of Massachusetts was again conven- 
ed, Governor Barnard laid before the house of representatives, 
an extract of a letter from the Eirl of Hillsborough, commu- 
nicating the great concern of his Majesty, that a house, at the 
end of a session, should have presumed to revert to, and 
resolve upon a measure of so inllammatory a nature, as that of 
writing to the other colonies, on the subject of their intended 
representations against some acts of Parhament. He also, 
among other things, declares it to be the King's pleasure, that 
the governor should require of the house of representatives, in 
his Majesty's name, to rescind the resolution which gave birth 
to the circular letter from the speaker, and to declare their dis- 
approbation of, and dissent from that rash and hasty measure. 
This message produced a considerable degree of agitation ; 
but without coming to any resolution on it, the house requested 
the governor to lay before them the \Ahole of the Earl's letter, 
and also copies of such letters as had been written by his excel- 
lency to that nobleman, on the subject to which the message 
referred. 

The letters written by the governor were refused, but the re- 
sidue of that from the Earl was laid before them. 

That minister had directed the governor, in case the house 
of representatives refused to retract, to dissolve them. 

No immediate answer being returned to these communicar 
tions, the governor pressed the house for a decision on them ^ 
adding, that he could not admit of a much longer delay, with- 
out considering it as an answer in the negative. 

The next day the house requested a recess, that they might 
consult their constituents on the requisition made. This being 
refused, a^Jetter to the Earl was reported and agreed to. In 
this they d'efend, in strong and manly terms, their circular let- 
lier, and repel the charges made by the Earl. 

The question was then put, whether the bouse would rescind 
the resolution on which their circular letter was founded, and it 
passed in the negative, by a very large majority. 



76 HISTORY UF THE 

A letter to the governor was then prepared, stating their tcio- 
tives lor relosiitg to comply with the requisition to rescind ttieir 
resolution; immediately after receiving which they were pro- 
rogued, and the next day they were dissolved by proclamation. 

While the opposition was thus conducted by the house with 
temperate firmness, and with the use only of legitimate means, 
the general irritation occasionally broke out in the town oi' 
Boston, in acts of violence. 

The seizure of the sloop Liberty, belonging to Mr. Hancock, 
occasioned the assenjblage of a tumultuous mob, who beat the 
revenue officers, and took possession of a boat belonging to the 
collector, which they burnt. The revenue officers took refuge 
on board of the Romney, man-of-war. After a considerable 
length of time, the governor moved the council to take mea- 
sures for restoring vigour and firmness to government : but 
they refused to act. 

This riot demonstrated the impracticabilit}' of executing, by 
ordinary means, the obnoxious laws, which government seemed 
determined to enforce, though it might not occasion, certainly 
accelerated a measure, which tended in no inconsiderable de- 
gree, to irritate still further the angry disposition, already so 
prevalent in Boston. 

Representations had already been made by the governor to 
the administration, stating the necessity of stationing a military 
force in the province for the protection of the officers employed 
in collecting the revenue;' and of the magistrates in preserving 
the public [leace ; and orders to detach, at least one regiment, 
on that service, had already been given to General Gage. The 
transactions rcspectin^v the seizure of the sloop Liberty, rendered 
any attempt to produce a countermand unavailing, and proba- 
bly was the cause of two regiments being sent, instead of one. 

Before the arrival of the military force, the governor had 
iised expressions, that it might be expected ; in consequence of 
which, a committee of the inhabitants was deputed, in a town 
meeting, to vvait on his excellency, to know on what the suspicions 
iie had expressed were founded, and also to pray him to con- 
vene another assembly. 



STATE OF MAV-YOFK. 7? 

The answer of the governor confirmed their fears respecting 
a military force. He informed them, that no other risscmbly 
could be convoked, until liis iViajesty's commands shoidd be 
received. 

The iinswer of the governor to their message being reported, 
the meeting immediately proceeded to resolve, that to levy 
money within that province, by any other authority than that 
of the general court, was a violation of the royal charter, and 
of the undoubted natural right of British subjects. 

That the inhabitants of the town of Boston would, at the 
peril of their lives and fortunes, take all legal and constitutional 
measures to delend all and singular the rights, liberties, privi- 
leges, and innnunities granted in their royal charter. 

They further resolved, that as the governor did not think 
proper to call a general court for the redress of their grievances, 
the town would then make choice of a suitable number of per- 
sons to act for them as a committee, in a convention to be held 
at Faneuil Hall, in Boston, with such as might be sent to join 
them from the several towns in the province. 

These votes were communicated, in a circular letter, to the 
other towns in the province, which were invited to concur in 
them. 

The measure was very generally adopted, and a convention 
assembled. 

They petitioned the governor to assemble the general court, 
and addressed a letter to the agent for the province,^ in Eng- 
land, stating the character in which they met, and the motives 
which brought them together. 

The day before the convention rose, two regiments, com- 
manded by Colonel Dalrymple, arrived, under convo}', in Nan- 
tucket road. The application of the governor to the council, 
. to provide quarters for them in Boston, had been rejected, be- 
cause there were barracks sufficient for their reception in the 
castle. The troops were landed, and quartered in the state- 
house. 

The utmost indignation was excited among the people, at 
seeing the chamber of their representatives filled with regular 



•7,8 HISTORY OF THE 

soldiers, and their town exhibiting the appearance of a garri- 
soned place. 

While these measures were pursuing in America, every ses- 
sion of Parliament was opened with information hoin the King, 
that a disposition to refuse obedience to the laws, and to resist 
the authority of the supreme legislature of the nation, still pre- 
vailed among his misguided subjects, in some of the colonies. 
In their address, answering the speeches, both houses uniformly 
expressed their abhorrence of the rebellious spirit manifested in 
the colonies, and their approbation of the measures taken by 
his Majesty for the restoration of order and good government. 

To give a more solemn expression to the sense of Parlia- 
ment on this subject, joint resolutions of both houses were at 
length entered into, condemning, in the strongest terms, the 
measures pursued by the Americans ; and an address was like- 
wise agreed on, approving the conduct of the crown, giving 
assurances of effectual support to such further measures as 
might be found necessary to maintain the civil magistrates in a 
due execution of the laws in Massachusetts, and beseeching 
him to direct the governor of that colony, to obtain and trans- 
mit to his Majesty, information of all treasons committed in 
Massachusetts since the year 1767, with the names of the per- 
sons who had been most active, that prosecutions might be in- 
stituted. 

These threatening declarations, which seem to have been 
particularly directed against Massachusetts, made no impres- 
sion on any of the colonies, in any degree favourable to the 
mother country. Their resolution to resist the exercise of the 
authority claimed by Great Britain, not only remained unsha- 
ken, but manifested itself in a still more determined form. 

]769. — Associations had been set on foot, in MassacJiusetts, as 
early as May, 1768, for the non-importation of goods from^ 
Great Britain. These associations communicated with mer- 
chants residing in New- York, Philadelphia, and other towns. 
Similar associations were, in the course of that year, and 1769, 
formed in all the colonies. All ranks and conditions of pep- 
sons seem to have united to give effect to them. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. T9 

The situation of Massnchusetts rendering a legislative grant 
of money necessary for the purposes of government, the gene- 
ral court of that colony was again convened. They, however, 
discovered no disposition to enter on the business for which 
they had heen called. The governor supposing they might be 
induced to, were they removed trom Boston, adjourned them, 
to meet at Cambrit'^e. "^i his measure served only to irritate 
and increase the Uitiiculties which then existed. 

The house refused to make the provision required by the 
mutiny act, for the troops stationed in Massachusetts ; and this 
being the object for which they were most especially convened, 
•hey were prorogued until the 1st of January, 1770. 

The Duke of Grafton, about this time, was placed at the 
herid of the administration, and supported with great earnest- 
ness, a proposition for the repeal of all the duties imposed for 
the purpose of raising a revenue in the colonies. This mode- 
i*a;e and judicious measure, he was unable completely to carry, 
a duty still being reserved on tea. 

Never did a great and wise nation adopt -a more ill-judged 
measure tlian this. The contest with America was a contest 
of principle. The measure now proposed for conciliation, 
while it encouraged in the Americans the hope that their cause 
was gaining strength in Britain, had no tendency to remove 
the ground of contest. Their opposition had been on the 
conviction, tl>at the right to tax them was vested exclusively in 
themselves ; and while this measure was thought to evidence 
the effect already produced by that opposition, it left in full 
force, all the motives which originally produced it. 

The legislature in 1767, voted four thousand five hundred 
pounds for the service of the King's troops. Provision was 
made to run a line of jurisdiction between the provinces of 
New-York and Massachusetts. Sundry acts were passed dur- 
ing the same year, among which we shall name the following, 
to wit; An act to prevent delays in suits, by the death of either 
party, between verdict and judgment ; an act for the better 
settling the estates of intestates ; an act for the prevention of 
frauds J an act for the relief of creditors against fraudulent de 



so IllSTOllF OF THE , 

vises J an act for the delivery of declarntioiis to priyoiuMv lis 
custod}' ; an act regulating trials in cases ol' treason. By tlie 
latter act, persons indicted were to have a copy of tiie indict- 
ment, and were allowed to make defence by counsel, and to call 
witnesses. Two witnesses were required to prove an ovt^rt act. 
Acts to prevent frivolous suits ; to. limit the time when writs of 
error should be brought for reversing fines and common reco- 
veries ; to enable posthumous children to take estates ; to pun- 
ish accessories to felonies ; to prevent forgery, perjury, and 
subornation of perjury; and to relieve parishes against bastard 
children. The foregoing acts were, we believe, all copied from 
the English statute books. Most or all of these have been re- 
tained by the state government, with some modifications. The 
English statute book was the mine whence the colonial assem- 
blies drew most of the provincial laws, as the latter have been 
the source vi'hence the state legislatures have taken most of our 
statute laws, or such as have been enacted for the benefit of the 
whole community. 

In the years 1768 and 1769, three thousand six hundred 
pounds were appropriated bj' the assembly, towards subsisting 
the King's troops stationed in the province of New-York. 
Every year requisitions were made by the British government 
for the maintenance and subsistence of the troops. In the suc- 
ceeding year, two thousand pounds were voied. 

On the twenty-ninth of September, 1769, the government of 
New-York devolved once more on Mr. Golden. Commission- 
ers were nominated this year to meet those appointed by the 
adjoining colonies, for the purpose of making regulations in 
relation to the Indian trade. Commissioners and agents had, 
on former occasions, been convened for similar purposes. 

The assembly this year enacted laws in relation to the im- 
provement of roads, and the laying out and opening of others. 

About this time, and a little before, settlements were farmed 
at Johnstown, Ballston, Fort Ann, White Hall, and some other 
places. The opening of roads, and the improvements made on 
some which hud been previously opened, tended very much to- 
wards the establishment of those settlements. 1 he liberal terms, 
also, on which the lands were obtained, had a like tendency. 



STATE OF NEW-YORli. SI 

The Earl ofDimiiiore assumed the government of the pro- 
vince on the eighteenth of October, 1770. 

The assembly on the sixteenth day of February, 1771, voted 
tliree hundred thousand dollars towards defraying the public 
debt created by the late war, and for meeting exigencies. This 
sum was apportioned among the several counties of the pro- 
vince, according to their population and wealth. An act was 
passed in the same month establishing the partition line between 
New- York and New Jersey, and confirmatory of the titles and 
possessions of certain of the inhabitants residing on and near 
the line. 

In the year 1772, the counties of Tryon and Charlotte were 
erected from portions of the county of Albany. The former 
comprehended all the country westwardly of the present counties 
of Schenectady, Saratoga and Warren. Johnstown was made 
the shire town. The territory embraced in the counties of 
Otsego and Chenango were in the same count}'. The popula- 
tion of the county of Tryon was confined mostly to the banks 
and vicinity of the Mohawk. T4ie name of Tryon was, in 
1784, changed to Montgomery. 

The county of Charlotte comprehended the southerly part 
of Washington county, and the southwesterly part of the State 
of Vermont. 

The assembly, in the same year, divided the county of Albany 
into fifteen road districts, and the county of Tryon into five. 
The act is a document of considerable importance, and one 
which might be read with interest. We shall introduce so 
much of it as appertains to the latter count}'. The Mohawk 
district embraced the country on both sides of the river Mo- 
hawk, from the confines of Schenectady, westwardly to Antho- 
ny's Nose. The district of Stone Arabia, included the coun- 
try on the north side of the Mohawk, from Anthony's Nos^ 
westwardly to the Little Falls. The district of Canajohary 
was on the south side of the Mohawk, and had the same extent 
on that river. The district of Germanflats lay on the north 
side of the Mohawk, and extended westwardly about sixteen 
miles. The district of Kingsland was south of the latter, being 

VOL. in. 11 



82 HISTORY OF THE 

separated by llie river Mohawk. There were no settlements, at 
this time, westerly of these districts. 

On the fifteenth of February, 1773, the assembly appropriated 
fifteen hundred pounds towards draining the drowned lands in 
the precinct of Goshen, in the county of Orange. A sum was 
also appropriated towards lowering VVicldiam's pond, situated 
in the same precinct. Great attention was paid by the house 
at this session to the opening and improving of roads in the 
province. 

In 1775, the assembly did not convene. 
The preceding maters, we have supposed, would be read 
with more interest, although not inserted according to the order 
of their dates. 

1770, — In March, 1770, a circumstance occurred, which 
threatened, for the moment, effects the most extensively serious. 
The two regiments stationed at Boston, to support, as was said, 
the execution of the civil power, and preserve the peace of the 
town, could not fall to be viewed by the inhabitants with very 
prejudiced eyes. Frequent 'quarrels arose between them, and 
at length an affray took place, in which four of the people 
were killed. 

The alarm bells were immediately rung, the drums beat to 
arms, and a large multitude assembled, who, inflamed to mad- 
ness by the view of the dead bodies, were, with some difficulty, 
restrained from rushing on the twenty-ninth regiment, which 
was drawn up under arms, in King's-street, by the exertions of 
the lieutenant-governor, who promised that the laws should 
be enforced on the perpetrators. 

Captain Preston, and the soldiers who fired, were committed 
to prison for trial. Colonel Dalrymple removed the troops 
from the town to the castle very shortly after. 

Captain Preston, and six of the soldiers, were afterwards 
tried by a jury, composed of men residing in Boston, and ac- 
quitted. Two only were found guilty, and these of man- 
slaughter. Mr. Quincy, and Mr. John Adams, who was after- 
wards President of the United States, were counsel for the 
prisoners. 



fl,^ ATE OF Nl.W-YORK. 83 

From the fact of their acquittal, and that by a jury of the 
iowii where the deed was con)mittcd, it may be inferred that 
the raihtary, on this occasion, had been grossly assaulted and 
abused, indeed, it is said that they were assailed for some time 
by the mob, with balls of ice and snow, and sticks, before they 
fired. 

This event increased in no inconsiderable degree, the detes- 
tation in which the soldiers, stationed among the people, were 
<!very where held. 

In the middle and southern colonies, the irritation against the 
mother country, appears to have subsided in a considerable de- 
gree — and no disposition was manifested to extend their oppo- 
sition further than to defeat the collection of the revenue, by 
entirely preventing the importation of tea. Their attention 
was a good deal taken up by an insurrection in North Carolina, 
where a number of ignorant people, supposing themselves to 
be aggrieved by the tea bill, rose in arms for the purpose of 
shutting up the courts of justice, destroying all officers of go- 
vernment and all lawyers, and of prostrating government itself. 
Governor Tryon marched against them, and having, in a deci- 
sive battle, totally defeated them, the insurrection was quelled, 
and order restored. 

In Massachusetts, where ver}' high opinions of American 
rights had long been imbibed ; and where the doctrine that the 
British Parliament could not rightfully legislate for the Amer- 
icans was already maintained ; a gloomy discontent with the 
existing state of things was every where manifested. The le? 
gislature had been removed from Boston to Cambridge, where 
the governor still continued to convene them. Thej' remon- 
strated against this as an intolerable grievance, and for two ses- 
sions refused to do business. 

When assembled in September, the general court was inform- 
ed by the governor, that his Majesty had ordered the Provincial 
garrison in the' castle to be withdrawn, and regular troops to 
succeed them. This they declared to be so essential an altera- 
tion of their constitution as justly to alarm a free people. 

From the commencement of the contest, the people of Mas- 



84 HISTORY OF THE 

sachusetts apjDear to hnve deeply felt the importance of uniting 
all the colonies in one system of measures, and in pursuance of 
this, a con)mittee of correspondence was, at this session elected, 
to communicate with such committees as might be appointed 
by other colonies; similar committees were soon after chosen 
by the different towns throughout the province. The example 
was afterwards followed by other colonies. 

1772. — Although tlie governor, judges, and other high co- 
lonial officers, had been appointed by the crown, they had 
hitherto depended on the provincial legislatures for their sala- 
ries ; and this dependence had always been highly valued, as 
giving to the colonies an important influence on their conduct. 
As a part of th,e new system, it had been determined, that the 
salaries of these officers should be fixed by the crown and paid, 
without the intervention of.the legislature. 1 his measure was 
adopted in relation to all the royal governments. It gave high 
offence, and was declared, by the house of representatives, to 
be an infraction ol the rights of the inhabitants, granted to them 
by charter. 

1773. — About this time a discovery was made, which greatly 
increased the discontents already so prevalent in INew England. 
Doctor Franklin, the agent for several of the colonies, and 
among others, for Massachusetts, by some unknown means, ob- 
tained possession of the letters which had been addressed by 
Governor Hutchinson, and by Lieutenant-governor Oliver, to 
the department of stale. These letters he transmitted to the 
general court. 

The opposition was represented to be confined to a few fac- 
tious men, whose conduct was by no means generally approved, 
and who had been emboldened by the weakness of the means 
used to restrain them. More vigorous measures were recom- 
mended, and several specific propositions, peculiarly offensive 
to the colony, were made, among which was the alteration of 
their charters, and the rendering the high offices dependant 
solely on the crown for their salaries. 

Inflamed by these letters, the assembly unanimously resolved, 
that their tendency and design w£!S to overthrow the constitu- 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 85 

lion of the government, and to introduce arbitrary power into 
t!ie province. At the same time, a petition to the King; was 
voted, praying him to remove Governor Hutchinson and Lieu- 
tenant-governor Oliver, for ever, from the government of the 
colony. This petition was transmitted to Dr. Franklin, and 
laid before the King in council, where it was heard ; and in a 
(cw days the lords of the council reported, that the petition in 
tjuestion was founded upon false and erroneous allegations, and 
that the saiTie was groundless, vexatious, and scandalous, and 
calculated only for the seditious purposes of keeping up a spirit 
of clamour and discontent in the province. Hutchinson, how- 
ever, w^as afterwards removed, and General Gage was ap- 
pointed. 

The determination of the colonies not to import tea from 
England, had so lessened the demand, that a very considerable 
quantity had accumulated in the stores of the East India Com- 
pany. They urged the minister to take oft the import Ameri- 
can duty, of three pence per pound, and offered, in lieu of it, to 
pay double that sum. This fair opportunity for accommoda- 
tion was rejected ; they, however, were allowed drawbacks on 
tea exported to the colonies. 

After these encouragements had been held forth, the com- 
pany proceeded to make shipments to the colonies on their own 
account. Large quantities were consigned to agents in Bos* 
ton, New-York, Philadelphia, Charleston, &c. 

The crisis now approached; and the conduct of the colonies 
was to determine whether they would be taxed by the Parlia- 
ment, or meet the consequences. If the tea should be landed, 
it would be sold, the duties would be paid, and the precedent 
for taxing them established. The same sentiment on this sub- • 
ject pervaded all the colonies. This ministerial plan of im- 
portation was ever}^ where considered as a direct attack on the 
liberties of the people, which it was the duty of all to oppose. 
The consignees were generally compelled to relinquish their 
appointments. 

At Boston the people, in a meeting, adopted the spirited re- 
solutions which bad before been entered into in Philadelphia. 



86 * HISTORY OF THE 

|A second large meeting was held, where it was voted, that the 
tea should not be landed ; that no duty should be paid ; and 
that it should be sent back in the same bottoms. AVith a fore- 
boding of the consequences of the measure about to be adopt- 
ed, and with a wish that those consequences should be seriously 
contemplated, Mr. Quincy thus afldressed the meeting: 

" It is not, Mr. Moderator, the spirit that vapours wilhiii 
these wal)s, that will defend us ; instead of it, we must gird on 
armour. The exertions of this day will call forth events which 
will make a very different spirit necessary for our salvation. 
Whoever supposes that hosannas will terminate the trials of the 
day, entertains a childish fancy. We must be grossly ignorant 
of the importance and value of the prize for which we contend ; 
we must be equally ignorant of the power of those who have 
combined against us, we must be blind to that malice, invete- 
racy, and insatiable revenge, which actuate our enemies, pub- 
lic and private, abroad and in our bosom, to hope, that we 
shall end this controversy v, ithout the sharpest, sharpest con- 
flicts ; to flatter ourselves that popular resolves, popular ha- 
rangues, popular acclamations, and popular vapour, will van- 
quish <jur foes. Let us look to the end. Let us weigh and 
consider, before we advance to those measures, which must 
bring on the most trying and terrible struggle this country ever 
saw." 

The question was again put and passed, without a negative. 

The meeting was then dissolved. An immense crowd re- 
paired to the quay. Here a number of the most resolute, dis- 
guised like Mohawk Indians, boarded the vessels, and in about 
two hours broke open three hundred and forty-two chests of 
tea, and discharged their contents into the ocean. 

These proceedings of the colonists were laid before Parliament, 
in a message from the King, and a very high and general indig- 
nation was excited. They expressed, almost unanimously, their 
approbation of the measures adopted by his Majesty, and gave 
the most explicit assurances, that they would not fail to exert 
every means in their power to provide for the due execution of 
the laws, and to secure the dependence of the colonies. A bill 



STA7E OF NEW-YORK. 87 

was soon brought in for discontinuing the lading and shipping 
of goods, wares, and merchandise at Boston, or the harbour 
thereof, and for the removal of the custom to Salem.' This bill 
was to continue in force, not only till compensation should be 
made to the East India Company, but till the King in council 
should declare himself satisfied as to the restoration of peace 
and good order in the town of Boston. It passed both the 
houses without a division, and almost without opposition. 

Soon after a bill was brought in, for better regulating the 
government of the province of Massachusetts. By this act the 
charter was totally subverted, and the nomination of counsel- 
lors, and of all magistrates and officers vested in the crown^ 
This bill was also carried through both houses by great majori- 
ties, but not without vigorous opposition. 

The next measure proposed, was a bill for the impartial ad- 
ministration of justice in the province of Massachusetts. It 
provided, that in case any person should be indicted in that 
province for murder, or any other capital ofi'ence, and it should 
appear to the governor that the fact was committed in the ex- 
ercise or aid of magistracy in suppressing riots, and that a fair 
trial could not be had in the province, he should send the per- 
son so indicted to any other colony, or to Great Britain, to be 
tried. This was to continue in force four years. 

A bill was also passed for quartering soldiers on the inhabi- 
tants, and the system was completed, by an act for making more 
effectual provision for the government of the province of Quebec. 

Amidst these hostile measures, one single conciliatory pro- 
position was made. Mr. Rose Fuller moved, that the house 
resolve itself into a committee to take into consideration the 
duty on the importation of tea into America, with a view to its 
repeal. This motion was seconded by Mr. Burke, and sup- 
ported with all the splendour of his eloquence ; but it was lost 
by a great majority. The Earl of Chatham mad^ his appear- 
ance again in the house of lords. Bui his efforts were una- 
vailing. 

On receiving the first intelligence of the Boston port bill, a 
meeting of the people of that town was called. 



88 HISTORY OF THE 

Resolutions were passed, expressing tlieir opinion of liie im- 
policy, injustice, inhumanity and cruelty of the act, from which 
they appealed to God and the world ; and also inviting the 
other colonies to join with them, in an agreement to stop all im- 
ports and exports, to and from Great Britain, Ireland and the 
West Indies, until the act should be repealed, as the only means 
remaining for the salvation of America and her liberties. 

Addresses were soon received from every part of the conti- 
nent, expressing sentiments of sympathy in their sufferings, 
exhorting them to resolution and perseverance, and assuring 
them that they were considered as suffering in the common 
cause. 

Associations were entered into by the members of the assem- 
bly of Virginia, and resolutions were passed, in which they de- 
clared, that an attack on one colony, to compel submission to 
arbitrary taxes, is an attack on all. They, therefore, recom- 
mended to the committee of correspondence, to communicate 
with the several other committees, of the other provinces, on the 
expediency of appointing deputies from the different colonies, 
to meet annually in general congress, and to deliberate on 
those measures w hich the united interests of America might, 
from time to time, render necessary. This measure had already 
been proposed in town-meetings, in the provinces of New- York 
and Massachusetts. 

While the people of Boston were yet employed in the first 
consultations, which look place on hearing of the bill directed 
against their town. General Gage arrived. 

In a (ew days, the general court was assembled, and had notice 
from the governor, that their place of session would be chang- 
ed, and that they would be called together on the first of June, 
at Salem. To evade this measure, they endeavoured to com- 
plete the business before them, prior to that day, which being 
made known to his excellency, he hastily adjourned them to 
the eleventh of June, then to meet at Salem. 

Soon after assembling, the house of representatives, mindful 
of the importance of combining the wisdom of America in one 
grand council, passed resolutions, declaring the expediency of 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 89 

n meeting of committees from the several colonies, for the pur- 
poses therein specified, and appointing five as a committee, on 
the part of Massachusetts. 

The colonies from New Hampshire to Georgia, ado{)ted this 
measure. 

The governor having obtained information of the manner 
in which the house was employed, sent his secretary to dis- 
solve it. 

Soon after, drafts of the remaining bills, relative to the pro- 
vince of Massachusetts, as well as that of the quartering troops 
in America, were received at Boston, and circulated through 
the country. These served to confirm the wavering and render 
the moderate indignant. 

An agreement was framed by the committee of correspon- 
dence at Boston, entitled a solemn league and covenant, where- 
in the subscribers bound themselves to suspend all commercial 
intercourse with Great Britain, until the Boston port bill, and 
the other obnoxious laws, should be repealed. They also bound 
themselves, not to consume or purchase from any other, any 
goods whatever, which arrived, and to break off all comnierce 
and dealings with any who did. They also renounced all 
connexion with those who should refuse to subscribe to that 
covenant, or to bind themselves by some similar agreement. 

General Gage published, against this covenant, a proclama- 
tion, in which it was termed, an unlawful, hostile and traitorous 
combination, contrary to the allegiance due to tlie King, de- 
structive of the legal authority of Parliament, and of the peace, 
good order and safety of the community. All persons were 
warned against incurring the pains and penalties due to such 
dangerous offences, and all magistrates were charged to appre- 
hend and secure such as should be guilty of them. 

It was every where declared, that the cause of Boston was 
that of America; that the late acts, respecting that devoted 
town, were unjust, tyrannical and unconstitutional ; that the op- 
position to this ministerial system of oppression, ought to be 
Hniversally maintained ; and that all intercourse with the pareut 
state, ought to be suspended. 

VOL. III. 12 



90 HISTORY OF THE 

The committees of correspondence selected Philadelphia ioY 
the place, and the beginning of September for the time of the 
meeting. 

On the fourth of September, 1774, the delegates from eleven 
provinces, appeared at the place appointed, and the next day 
they assembled at the Carpenter's Hall, when Peyton Ran- 
dolph was chosen president. 

Committees were appointed to state the rights claimed by 
the colonies, which had been infringed by acts of the IJrilish 
Parliament, passed since 1763, to prepare a petition to the 
King, and addresses to the people of Great Britain, to the in- 
habitants of the province of Quebec, and to the colonies re- 
presented in Congress. 

Among other resolves, a declaration of rights was agreed 
to, at a very early period of the session. It merits attention, 
because it states tlie ground now taken by America:-^ 

" When," say they, in their address to the people of Great 
Britain, " a nation led to greatness by the hand of liberty, and 
possessed of all the glory that heroism, munificence and hu- 
manity can bestow, descends to the ungrateful task of forging 
chains for her friends and children, and instead of giving sup- 
port to freedom, turns advocate for slavery and oppression, 
there is reason to suspect she has either ceased to be virtuous, 
or been extremely negligent in the appointment of her rulers. 

" In almost every age, in repeated conflicts, in long and 
bloody wars, as well civil as foreign, against many and power- 
ful nations, against the open assaults of enemies, and the more 
dangerous treachery of friends, have the inhabitants of your 
island, your great and glorious ancestors, maintained their in- 
dependence, and transmitted the rights of men, and the bless- 
ings o! liberty to yon their posterity. 

'• Be not surprised, therefore, that we, who are descended 
froui the same common ancestors, that we, whose forefathers 
participated in all the rights, the liberties, and the constitution 
you so justly boast of, and who have carefully conveyed the 
same fair inheritance, to us guaranteed by the plighted faith of 
government, and the most solemn compacts with British sov- 



STATE OF NEW-yOIUv. 



di 



veigus, should refuse lo surrender them to men, who found 
their claim on no principles of reason, and who prosecute them 
with a design, that by having our lives and property in their 
power, they may, with the greater facility, enslave you. 

" We claim to be free as well as onr fellow-subjects of Great 
Britain, and are not the proprietors of the soil of Great Bri- 
tain, lords of their own property ? Can it be taken from them 
without their consent? Will tliey yield ii to the arbiirarj dis- 
posal of any men, or number of men whatever? You know 
they will not. 

" Why then are the proprietors of the soil of America less 
lords of their property than you are of yours, or why should 
they submit it to the disposal of your Parliament, or any other 
Parliament or council in the world, not of their election ? Can 
the intervention of the sea that divides us, cause disparity in 
rights, or can any reason be given why English subjects, who 
live three thousand miles from the royal palace, should enjoy 
less liberty than those who are three hundred miles distant 
from it ? 

•* Reason looks with indignation on such distinctions, and 
freemen can never perceive their propriety. 

" At the conclusion of the late war a war rendered glo- 
rious by the abilities and integrity of a minister, to whose efforts 
the British empire owes its safety and its fame ; at the conclu- 
sion of this war, which was succeeded by an inglorious peace, 
formed under the auspicies of a minister of prijiciples, and of a 
family unfriendly to the protestant cause, and inimical to liberty; 
we say, at this period, and under the influence of that man, a 
plan for enslaving your fellow-subjects in America, was con- 
certed, and has ever since been pertinaciously carrying into 



execution." 



The former relative situation of the two countries is then 
stated, &c. The transactions, since the conclusion of the war, 
are passed in solemn review; and they add, "this being a true 
slate of facts, let us beseech you to consider to what end they 
lead. 

"Admit that the ministry, by the powers of Britain, and the 



92 IHSTORY OF THE 

aid of our Roman Catliolic neighbours, should be able to carr)- 
the point of taxation, and reduce us to a state of perfect humili- 
ation and slavery ; such an enterprise would doubtless make 
some addition to your national debt, which already presses down 
your liberties, and fills you with pensioners and placemen. We 
presume also, that your commerce will somewhat be diminished. 
However, suppose you should prove victorious — in what con- 
dition will you then be ? What advantages or what laurels will 
you reap from such a conquest? May not a ministry, with the 
same armies, enslave you r"' 

The resources which the subjugation of America would 
place in the hands of the crown, are then expatiated on, and 
the address proceeds : '* we believe there is yet much virtue, 
much justice, and much public spirit in the English nation. 
To that justice, we now appeal. You have been told, that we 
are seditious, impatient of government, and desirous of indepen- 
denc}-. Be assured that these are not facts, but calumnies. 
Permit us to be as free as yourselves, and we shall ever esteem 
a union with you to be our greatest glory and our greatest hap- 
piness — we shall ever be ready to contribute all in our power, 
to the welfare of the empire — we shall consider your enemies 
as our enemies, and your interest as our own. 

" But if you are determined that your ministers shall wan- 
tonly sport with the rights of mankind — if neither the voice of 
justice, the dictates of the law, the principles of the constitution, 
nor the suggestions of humanity, can restrain your hands from 
shedding human blood, in such an impious cause ; we must then 
tell you, that we will never submit to be hewers of wood or 
drawers of water, for any ministry or nation in the world. 

" Place us in the same situation that we were at the close of 
the last war, and our former harmony will be restored." 

The committee that drafted this eloquent address, were John 
Jay, Esquire, late governor of the State of New-York, Mr. 
Livingston, late chancellor, and a Mr. Lee. 

The petition to the King states briefly the grievances com- 
plained of, and then proceeds : — 

" Had our Creator been pleased to give us existence in a 



-?*"' 



STATK OF NEW-YORK. 93 

land of slavery, the sense of otir condition might have been nii- 
titiated by ignorance and habit. But thanks be to His adorable 
goodness, we were born the heirs of freedom, and ever enjoyed 
our riglit under the auspices of your royal ancestors, whose 
family was seated on the British throne, to rescue and secure a 
pious and gallant nation froin the popery and despotism of a 
superstitious and inexorable tyrant. Your Majesty, we are con- 
fident, justly rejoices that your title to the crown is thus founded 
on the title of your people to liberty ; and therefore, we doubt 
not, but >our royal wisdom must approve the sensibility, that 
teaches your sul)jects anxiously to guard the blessing they re- 
ceived from Divine Providence, and thereby to prove the per- 
formance of that compact, which elevated the illustrious House 
of Brunswick to the imperial dignity it now possesses. 

" The apprehensiuii of being degraded into a state of servi- 
tude, from the pre-eminent rank of English freemen, while our 
minds retain the strongest love of liberty, and clearly foresee 
the miseries preparing for us and for our posterity, excites emo- 
tions in our breasts, which, though we cannot describe, we should 
not wish to conceal. Feeling as men, and thinking as subjects, 
in the manner we do, silence would be disloyalty. By giving 
this faithful information, we do all in our power to promote 
the great objects of your royal cares — the tranquillity of your 
government, and the welfare of your people. 

*' Duty to your Majesty, and regard for the preservation of 
ourselves and our posterity, the primary obligations of nature 
and society, command us to entreat your royal attention ; and 
as your Majesty enjoys the signal distinction of reigning 
over freemen, we apprehend the language of freemen cannot 
be displeasing. Your royal indignation, we hope, will rather 
fall on those designing and dangerous men, who daringly inter- 
posing themselves between your royal person and your faithful 
subjects, and who, for several years past incessantly employed to 
dissolve the bonds of society, by abusing your Majesty's autltor- 
ity, misrepresenting your American subjects, and prosecuting* 
the most desperate and irritating projects of oppression, have 
at length compelled us, by the force of accumulated injuries. 



M HISTORY OF THIi 

too severe to be any longer tolerable, to disturb your Majesty's 
repose by our cou)plaints. 

"These seniifnents are extorted from hearts that much more 
willingly would bleed in your Majesty's service. Yet so great- 
ly have we been misrepresented, that a necessity has been 
alleged of taking our property from us, without our consent, 
to defray the charge of the administration of justice, the sup- 
port of civil government, and the defence, protection and se- 
curity of the colonies. 

'* Yielding to no British subjects in affectionate attachment 
to your Majesty's person, family and government, we too 
dearly prize the privilege of expressing that attachment by 
those proofs that are honourable to the Prince thai receives 
(hem, and to the people who give them, ever to resign it to any 
body of men upon earth. 

" We ask but for peace, liberty and safety. We wish not 
diminution of the prerogative, nor do we solicit the grant of 
any new right in our favour — your royal authority over us, and 
our connexion with Great Britain, we shall always carefully 
and zealously endeavour to support and maintain." 

" Permit us then, most gracious sovereign, in the name of all 
your faithful people in America, with the utmost humility to 
implore yon for the honour of Almighty God, whose pure reli- 
gion our enemies are undermining, for your glory which can 
be advanced, only by rendering your subjects happy, and 
keeping them united, for the interests of your family, depending 
on an adherence to the principles that enthroned it ; for the 
safety and welfare of your kingdom and dominions, threatened 
by almost unavoidable dangers and distresses, that your Ma- 
jesty, as the loving father of your whole people, connected by 
the same bonds of law, loyalty, faith and blood, though dwell- 
ing in various countries, will not suffer the transcendent relation 
formed by these ties, to be further violated in uncertain expec- 
tati,on of effects, that if attained, never can compensate for the 
calamities through which they must be gained." 

They published an address to the American people, which is 
replete with serious and contemplative argument. In this paper 



STATE OF NEW-VORK. 95 

the several causes which had led to the existing state of things 
were set out at large, in order to convince them tiiat their liber- 
lies would be destroyed, and the security of their property and 
persons annihilated by submission to the pretensions of Great 
Britain. They stated the measures that had been adopted, 
and after having declared their confidence, that the mode of 
resistance which had been recommended, would prove effica- 
cious if persisted in, they concluded with saying, '* your own 
salvation, and that of your posterity, now depends upon your- 
selves. You have already shown that you entertain a proper 
sense of the bi<ssings you are striving to retain. Against the 
temporary incouveftiences you may suffer from a stoppage of 
trade, you will weigh in the opposite balance, the endless mise- 
ries you and your descendants must endure from an established 
arbitrary power. You will not forget the honour of your coun- 
try, that must, from your behaviour, take its title in tlie estima- 
tion of the world, to glory or to shame ; and you will, with the 
deepest attention, reflect, that if the peaceable mode of opposi- 
tion, recommended by us, be broken and rendered ineffectual, 
as your cruel and haughty ministerial enemies, from a contemp- 
tuous opinion of your firmness, insolently predict will be the 
case, you must inevitably be reduced to choose, either a more 
dangerous contest, or a final, ruinous and infamous submis- 
sion. 

♦' Motives thus cogent, arising from the emergency of your 
unhappy condition, must excite your utmost diligence and zeal 
to give all possible strength and energy to the pacific measures 
calculated for your relief. But we think ourselves bound in 
duty to observe to you, that the schemes agitated against the 
colonies have been so conducted, as to rerider it prudent that 
you should extend your views to mournful events, and be in all 
respects prepared for every contingency. Above all things, 
we earnestly entreat you, with devotion of spirit, penitence of 
heart, and amendment of life, to humble yourselves, and 
implore the favour of Almighty God ; and we fervently be- 
seech His divine goodness to take you into his gracious protec- 
tion." 



96 HISTORY OF THE 

This address was also drawn by John Jay, Esquire, and 
Messrs. Livingston and Lee. 

Letters were addressed to the people of Canada, and to the 
colonies of Georgia, Nova Scotia, St. Johns, he. inviting them 
to unite with their brethren in the common cause of British 
America. 

Having finished the business before them, and recommended 
that another Congress should be held at Philadelpliia, on the 
tenth day of May, 1775, they dissolved. 

The proceedings of Congress were read throughout America 
with enthusiastic admiration. 

The people in general made great efforts to arm and disci- 
pline themselves. Independent companies were every where 
formed, and the whole face of the country exhibited the appear- 
ance of an approach mg war. 

Soon after the entrance of General Gage into his govern- 
ment, two regiments of foot, with a detachment of artillery 
and cannon, arrived at Boston, and encamped within the pe- 
ninsula. They were gradually reinforced by several regiments 
from Ireland, and from difi'erent parts of the continent. The 
dissatisfaction was increased by placing a guard on Boston 
neck. 

A report was spread, that a regiment stationed on the neck 
had cut off the communication of the town with the country, in 
order to starve it into submission. On hearing this, the inha- 
bitants of the adjacent county of Worcester assembled in arms, 
and dispatched two messengers to inquire into the fact. 

With the laws relative to the province. Governor Gage re- 
ceived a list of thirty-two new counsellors, twenty-four of whom, 
a sufficient number to carry on the business of the government, 
accepted the office, and entered on its duties. 

All those who accepted offices under the new system were 
denounced. The new judges were every where prevented from 
acting. 

In the present state of the public affairs. General Gage deem- 
ed it necessary, for the security of his troops, to fortify Boston 
neck. 



STATt: 01' NEW-YORK. 97 

The time for tlie general muster of the militia approached ; 
and the governor, iieliiig apprehensive of an atta. k, seized 
upon the amnumition and stores which were in the provincial 
arsenal at Cainbridce, and had them removed to Boston. Ho 
also seized upon the powder in the magazines at Cliarlestown 
and some other places. 

This measure excited a great ferment. The people assem- 
bled in great numbers, and were with difficulty dissuaded from 
marching to Boston, and demanding a re-delivery. Not long 
afterwards the fort at Portsmouth in New Hampshire was 
taken by a body ot Provincials, and the powder it contained 
transported to a place of safety. A similar measure was adopt- 
ed ID Rhode Island. 

About the same time, a report reached Connecticut, that the 
ships and troops had attacked the town of Boston. Several 
thousand men immediately assembled in arms, and commenced 
their march for Boston. 

General Gage had, before the general ferment had risen to 
its present height, issued writs for the election of members to a 
general assembly, to meet in October. He had afterwards 
countermanded these writs, but his countermand was not at- 
tended to. The elections were held, and delegates were elect- 
ed. These assembled, and voted themselves a provincial con- 
gress, and proceeded to business. They drew up a plan for 
the defence of the province, provided magazines, ammunition, 
and stores for twelve thousand uiilitia, and enrolled a number 
of minute-men. 

In Great Britain a new Parliament was assenibled, and the 
King, in his speech, informed thent, " that a most daring spirit 
of resistance and disobedience still prevailed in Massachusetts, 
and had broken forth in fresh violences of a very criminal na- 
tiir"^, &.fc. 

The addresses proposed re-echoed the sentiments of the 
^peech,and the amendments offered, were rejected in boih houses 
by very large majorities. Yet the business respecting America 
was not promptly entered into. The friends of conciliation 
availed themselves of this delay, to bring forward propositions 

VOT.. III. 13 



98 HISTORY OF THE 

which might restore harmony to the different parts of the em- 
pire. 

J 775. — Lord Chatham, taking into view the future course of 
events, demonstrated to the house the impossibihty of subju- 
gating America, and urged the immediate removal of the 
troops from Boston. He also brought forward a bill for set- 
tling the troubles in America, but it was rejected. 

The next day after its rejection, Lord North moved, in the 
house of commons, an address to his Majesty, in which it was 
declared, that ihey find that a rebellion actually exists in the 
province of Massachusetts. In the course of the debate, a 
General Grant declared, that at the head of five regiments he 
would undertake to traverse the whole country, and drive the 
inhabitants from one end of the continent to the other. The 
address was carried. 

Lord North soon after moved a bill for restraining the com- 
merce of the New England provinces, and prohibiting them 
from carrying on the fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland. 

While this bill was pending, and only vengeance was breath- 
ed by the supporters of the present system, his lordship, to the 
astonishment of the house, suddenly moved, what he termed, 
bis conciliatory proposition. Its amount was, that Parliament 
would forbear to tax any colony which would tax itself in such a 
sum as would be satisfactory. The house, however, would not 
pass it, before the administration gave it such an explanation 
as to satisfy the house, that it was in maintenance of their right 
to tax the colonies. It, however, on reaching America, met 
with no better success than the other odious and oppressive 
laws already passed. 

After the passage of the bill for restraining the trade of New 
England, information was received, that the inhabitants of the 
middle and southern colonics were supporting their northern 
brethren in every measure of opposition. In consequence 
of this inteUigence, a second bill was brought in for im- 
posing similar restrictions on the colonies of New-Jersey, 
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, and De- 
laware. 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 99 

in the course of the session the house of commons ret'used to 
hear a petition oilored by Mr. Burke, from the assembly of 
New-York, because it was suggested by the minister, that it 
contained claims incompatible with the supremacy of Parlia- 
ment. This haughty rejection tended to convince the people 
of New-York, that there was no medium between resistance 
and absolute submission. 

See Williams'' History of Vermont, Colonial Laws, Marshall's Life of Wash- 
ington, &c. 






100 HISTORY OF riife 



CHAPTER IV. 

The dth vales of the coni mental Congress convene in the cifij 
of Nei!)-York — General Gage detacher Colonel Smith with 
frooj)s to destroy the stores at Concord — Battle of Lexington 
— Tronps levied in Massachusetts — Ticovderoga and Crown 
Point laken — Congress pnblish a manifesto — General Howe 
arrives with troops at Boston — Battle of Bunker's Hill — 
ii'ashington appointed to the chief command of the American 
armies — He repairs to the army near Boston — The Americans 
incest Boston — Proceedings in New-York — The British com- 
pelled to leave Boston — The Americans invade Canada, and 
reduce St. Johns and Montreal — Montgomery marches vpon 
(^uebei- — Arnold proceeds through the wilderness, by the rivers 
Kennebeck and Chavdier, and joins Montgomery before Que- 
bec — Investment of C^neijec — Death of Inonlgomery, and re- 
pulse oj the Americans in attempting to storm (Quebec. 

In the mean time, delegates for llie ensuing Congress were 
chosen. In New- York a convention was chosen for the sole 
purpose of electing members to r<;'{)rcsent that colony in Con- 
gress. ■ ' 

In New England an expectation of hostilities was daily anti- 
cipated, but the people had determined to repel, not to com- 
mence. 

A quantity of military stores had been collected at Concord, 
eighteen miles from Boston ; on the evening of the eighteenth 
of April, 1775, General Gage detached Colonel Smith and 
Major Pitcairn, with nine hundred men, to destroy them. 
About five in the morning of the nineteenth they reached Lex- 
ington, where they found seventy militia men, belonging to 
that town, drawn np on the parade and under arms. 

Major Pitcairn, who led the van, galloped up, calling out, 
*• disperse, rebels — throw down your arms, and disperse." 



STATE OV NLU-YORK. 10 1 

riic soldiers, at the same lime, ran up huzzaing, several guns 
were fu'id first, wliicli were immediately followed by a gene- 
ral disciiarge, and the firing was continued as long as any oC 
the militia appeared. Light men were killed and several 
wounded. 

Colonel Smith then proceeded to Concord, while the detach- 
ment were employed' in destroying the stores ; some minute- 
men and militia, who had assembled, approached a bridge, as 
if to pass it HI the character ol travellers. They were fired on, 
and two killed. The fire was returned, and a skirmish ensued, 
in which Colonel Smith was worsted and compelled lo retreat, 
with some loss. The conns ry was now generally alarmed, and 
the people rushed from every quarter to the scene of action. 
The King's troops were attacked on all sides. bUirmish aiier 
skirmish ensued, and they were driven from post to post, into 
Lexington. General Gage, af)preiiending the expedition to be 
not entirely without hazard, dispatchea Lord Pchv, with six- 
teen companies of foot, a corps of marines, and tv. o piece>j of 
cannon, to support Colonel Smith. This seasonable reinforce- 
ment reached Lexuigton about the time of the arrival of the 
retreating part}', otherwise the w hole would have been destroy- 
ed. The action abated until the enemy resumed their retreat, 
when it was again renewed, and an irregular but \ery galling 
fire was kept on the flanks front and rear, from stone fences, 
until the enemy arrived, about sunset, on the common of 
Charlestown. 

In this action the loss of the British in killed, wounded, and 
prisoners, was two hundred and seventy-three men, while that 
of the Provincials did not exceed ninety. This was the com- 
mencement of a long and bloody war. 

The provincial congress, immediately on the news of this 
battle, passed a vote for raising thirteen thousand six hundred 
men in Massachusetts, to be commanded by General Ward, 
and for calling on New Hampshire, Rhode Jslaud, and Con- 
necticut, for their respective quotas of troops, so as to complete 
an army of thirty thousand men. 

The neiglibouring colonies hastened to furnish the number 



102 HISTORY OF THE 

of men required ; and in the mean time, such numbers volun- 
tarily assembled, that many were dismissed for want of arms, 
k.c. The King's troops were now blocked up in the peninsula 
of Boston. 

On receiving intelligence of the battle of Lexington, the 
people of the colony of New-York took up arras, but there was 
considerable opposition at first from the royal party. 

About the same time, that active spirit, which at the com- 
mencement of hostilities, seemed in so remarkable a degree to 
have pervaded Nesv England, manifested itself in an expedition 
of considerable merit. 

The possession of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and the 
command of lakes Champlain and George, were deemed ob- 
jects of great importance. Deane, Wooster and Parsons form- 
ed the bold design of seizing these fortresses by surprise. They, 
therefore, left Connecticut with about forty men, and proceeded 
towards Bennington, where, meeting with Colonel Ethan Allen, 
they proposed to him to raise the men which would be required 
to aid them in its execution. 

Colonel Allen entered into their views, and engaged to meet 
them with the requisite number of men at Castleton in Vermont, 
whither they were to repair. At this place about two hundred 
and seventy men assembled, who were joined by Colonel Ar- 
nold. This officer had come with the same intent, and was 
authorized by the committee of safety of Massachusetts to raise 
four hundred men. 

Colonels Allen and Arnold proceeded from thence to Lake 
Champlain, opposite Ticonderoga, in the night of May ninth. 
They embarked with eightj'-three men, crossed the lake, landed 
without being discovered, and entered the fort, which they took 
by surprise. The garrison consisted of forty-four men, one 
lieutenant, and one captain. 

Colonel Seth Warner was then detached to take Crown 
Point, where a sergeant and twelve men were stationed. This 
service was immediately executed. 

The military stores found at these places were of considera- 
ble value to the Americans. The pass at Skeensborough 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 103 

(White Hall) was seized at the same time by a party of volun- 
teers Troin Connecticut. 

To complete the expedition, it was necessary to obtain the 
command of Lake Champlain, which could only be effected by 
taking a sloop of war at St. Johns. Arnold, to effect this, 
manned a. schooner, and sailed to St. Johns, and surprised the 
sloop. 

Thus, a few individuals, without the loss of a man, captured 
Ticonderoga and Crown Point. 

The intelligence of the capture of these forts was commu- 
nicated to Congress, then just assembled in Philadelphia. 

Congre£s, among other tilings, proceeded to organize the 
higher departments of the army. Bills of credit, to the amount 
of three millions of dollars, were emitted for the purpose of de- 
fraying the expenses of the war, and the twelve confederated 
colonies were pledged for their redemption. 

Articles of war, for the government of the continental army 
were formed, though as yet, the troops were raised under the 
authority of the states, without even a requisition from Con- 
gress, except in a few instances. 

A declaration, in the form of a manifesto, was published to 
the army, in orders, and to the people from the pulpit. After 
detailing the causes of their opposition to the mother country, 
with energy, the manifesto exclaims, " but why should we enu- 
merate our injuries in detail.'' by one statute it is declared that 
Parliament can of right make laws to bind us in all cases what- 
soever. What is to defend us against so enormous, so unlimit- 
ed a power ? not a single man of those who assume it is chosen 
by us, or is subject to our control or influence ; but on the con- 
trary, they are, all of them, exempt from the o'peration of such 
laws, and an American revenue, if not diverted from the ostensi- 
ble purposes for which it is raised, would actually lighten their 
own burdens in proportion as they increase ours. We saw the 
misery to which such despotism would reduce us. We have, for 
ten years, incessantly and ineffectually besieged the throne as 
suppliants ; we reasoned, we remonstrated with Parliament, in 
the mildest and most decent language. 



104 IHSTORV OF Tliii 

" We are reduced to the alternative of choosing an uncondi- 
tional submission to the t3'ranny of irritated ministers, or resis- 
tance by force — the latter is our choice — we have counted the 
cost of this contest, and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary 
slavery. Honour, justice and humanity forbid us tamely t<» 
surrender that fruedom we received from our gallant.ancestors, 
and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from 
us. We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning suc- 
ceeding generations to that wretchedness which inevitably 
awaits them, if we basely entail hereditary bondage upon 
them. 

" Our cause is just — our union is perfect — our internal resour- 
ces are great, and if necessary, foreign assistance is undoubt- 
edly attainable — we gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances 
of the Divine favour towards us, that his Providence would not 
permit us to be called into this, severe controversy, until we 
were grown up to our present strength, had been previously ex- 
ercised in warlike operation, and possessed of the means of de- 
fending ourselves. With hearts fortified with these animating 
reflections, we most solemnly, before God and the world, de- 
clare, that exerting the utniost energy of those powers, which 
our beneficent Creator hath most graciously bestowed on us, 
the arms we have been compelled, by our enemies to assume, 
we will in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness 
and perseverance, employ for the preservation of our liberties, 
being with one mind, resolved to die freemen, rather than to 
live slaves. 

" Lest this declaration should disquiet the minds of our 
friends and fellow-subjects, in any part of the empire, we as-. 
sure thetn that we mean not to dissolve that union which has so 
long and so happily subsisted between us, and which we sincere- 
ly wish to see restored. Necessity has not yet driven us into 
that desperate measure, or induced us to excite any other nation 
to war against them. We have not raised armies with ambi- 
tious designs of separating from Great Britain, and establish- 
ing independent states. We fight not for glory or for conquest. 
We exhibit to mankind the remarkable spectacle of a people 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 105 

attacked by unprovoked enemies without any imputation, or 
even suspicion of oflence. Tliey boast of their privileges and 
ci\ihzation, and yet proffer no milder conditions than servitude 
or death. 

" In our ovin native land, in defence of the freedom, that is 
our birth-right, and which we ever enjoyed until the late viola- 
tion of it — for the protection of our property, acquired 
solely by the honest industry of our forefathers and ourselves, 
against violence actually offered, we have taken up arms. 
We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease on the part 
of the aggressors, and all danger of their being renewed shall 
be removed, and not before." 

During these transactions, Generals Howe, Burgoyne and 
Clinton, with a reinforcement of troops, arrived at Boston ; 
soon after which General Gage published a proclamation, de- 
claring martial law to be in force, and offering pardon to those 
who would lay down their arms and submit to the King, with 
the exception of Samuel Adams and John Hancock. 

This proclamation served only to increase the activity of the 
Amerieans. 

The provincial congress recommended the occupation of 
Bunker's Hill, which commands Charlestown. In pursuance 
of this, one thousand men were detached under Colonel Pres- 
cot to take possession, but by some mistake, Breed's Hill, situ- 
ated next to Boston, was marked out instead of Bunker's Hill. 

Colonel Prescot proceeded by night to Breed's Hill, and 
commenced works of defence. As soon as light had discover- 
ed them to the enemy, a heavy cannonade was opened from the 
ships in the river near by. The Provincials, however, continu- 
ed their labour. 

As this eminence overlooks Boston, General Gage deemed 
it necessary to drive them from it. To effect this object, he sent 
Major-general Howe, and Brigadier-general Pigot, with twen- 
ty companies of infantry and grenadiers, and some companies 
of artillery. They debarked the troops at Morton's Point, 
where they formed ; but perceiving that the Americans wait- 
ed for them, they remained on the ground until a reinforcement^ 

VOL. III. 14 



106 HISTORY OP THE 

which General Howe had applied for, arrived. During this in- 
terval the American Generals Warren and Pommeroy arrived 
with a reinforcement. 

On being joined by the reinforcement, General Howe ad- 
vanced slowly, under cover of a very heavy discharge of can- 
non from the ships. While he was advancing he gave orders 
to burn Charleslown. In a few minutes the whole village, con- 
taining about five hundred houses, was enveloped in flames. 

The scene of action was in full view of the heights of Bos- 
ton and of its vicinity. 

The Americans allowed the enemy to approach within one 
hundred yards of their works, when they poured upon them so 
deadly a fire that the British line was totally broken, and fell back 
with precipitation towards the landing place. Here they were 
rallied and brought up to a second charge, but were again 
driven back. General Howe formed them, and with great dif- 
ficulty, led them a third time up to the works. The ammuni- 
tion of the Americans being now nearly expended, their fire 
began to slacken, and the enemy, availing themselves of this 
circumstance, entered with fixed bayonets and carried them. 
The Americans immediately retreated over Charlestown neck, 
and took a new position. 

In this affair, the force employed by the British general, 
amounted to three thousand men. Their killed and wounded 
exceeded ten hundred and fifty men, while the loss of the Ame- 
ricans was only four hundred and fifty. In this action. Gen- 
eral Warren, the commander of the Americans, was killed. 

The colonial force, engaged in this action, was stated 
through the country at fifteen hundred ; by some, it has been 
supposed to have amounted to four thousand. 

Although the ground was lost, the Americans claimed the 
victory. 

The enemy, in consequence of the great loss sustained in 
the battle, did not attempt further offensive operations, but 
contended themselves with seizing and fortifying Bunker's Hill, 
which secured to thenj the peninsula of Charlestown. Here 
they were as closely blockaded as they were in Boston. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 107 

On the fifteenth day of June, 1775, the American Congress 
appointed George Washington, Esq., then a delegate and 
member of that body, general and commander-in-chief of the 
armies ot tiie United Colonies. They also, at the same time, 
appointed Artemas Ward, of Massacliusetts, who cv)mmandod 
the forces before Boston ; Colonel Lee, Philip Schuyler of 
ISevv-York, and Israel Putnam of Connecticut, Major-generals, 
and Horatio Gates, Adjutant-general. 

General Washington prepared, without delay, to enter upon 
the dutes of his station, and having passed a few days in New- 
York, where General Schuyler commanded, and where several 
important arrangments were to be made, he proceeded to Cam- 
bridge, the head quarters of the American army. 

The first moments after his arrival in camp, were employed 
in reconnoitering the enemy, and examining the strength and 
situation of the American forces. 

The main body of the British army, under the command 
of General Howe, was intrenching itself on Bunker's Hill, 
about a mile from Charlestown, and about half a mile in ad- 
vance of the works which had been thrown up by the Ameri- 
cans on Breed's Hill. Three floating batteries lay in Mystic 
river, near the camp, and a twenty gun-ship below the ferry, 
between Boston and Charlestown. There was, also, on the 
Boston side of the water, on Cope's Hill, a strong battery. 
The other division of the British army was deeply intrenched 
on Roxbury neck. These two divisions secured the only ave- 
nues leading from the country into the two peninsulas of Bos- 
ton and Charlestown. 

The American army lay on both sides of Charles river. Its 
right occupied the high grounds about Koxbury, from whence 
it extended towards Dorchester, and its left was covered by 
Mystic or Medford river. 

Intrenchments were raised on Winter and Prospect Hills. 
A strong intrenchment was also made at Sewel'> Farm. 

At Roxbury, where General Thomas commanded, a strong 
work had been erected on the hill. 



lOS HISTUKV Ol THE 

The troops from New Hampsiiiro, wiilj a regiineut from 
Rhode Island, amouiuiiig to nearly two ihoii^aiid uien, occu- 
pied Winter Hill. Aoout one thousand men, commanded by 
General Putnam, were on Prospect Hill. Between four and 
five thousand men were stationed at Roxbury. The residue, 
except about seven hundred men, were placed at Sewel's 
Farm. 

Thus the American forces occupied a considerable extent, 
and eft'ectually prevented the enemy from stirring out of their 
works. 

Washington, about this lime, divided the army into three 
divisions. That part which lay at Roxbury constituted the 
right wing, and was commanded by General Ward ; those 
trjops at Mystic or Medford river, formed the left, and was 
placed under General Lee ; the centre division, including the 
reserve, was under his own immediate command. The whole 
amounted to about fourteen thousand five hundred men. The 
deficiency of ammunition was such, that no operations could be 
undertaken. Bayonets, intrenching implements, and even tents, 
were deficient to a very alarming extent. No uniformity exist- 
ed in the army, and very little order. In JVlassachusetls the 
men had chosen their officers, and felt no inferiority to them. 
Animated with the spirit of liberty, and collected for its deience, 
they were not sensible of the importance of discipline, and it 
was found no easy matter to make them conform to its rules. 
Tlie army w as, consequently, in a state of almost entire disor- 
ganization. The time of service of many was to expire in No- 
vember, and none were engaged louger than the last of De- 
cember. 

To the many other wants of the army, was added that of 
clothes. Their operations were greatly affected too, by the total 
want of engineers. To increase.the derangements, the appoint- 
ment of general officers gave extensive dissatisfaction, and oc- 
casioned several to withdraw. 

These disadvantages deducted essentially from the efficiency 
■of the army; but Washington observed that there were mate- 



STAlli OF WEW-YOKK. 109 

rials for a good army. He wns, therefore, indefatipable in or- 
ganising it, so as to render it more useliil. He arranged the 
army iiuo brij^adcs and divisions, and procured the appoint- 
ment of a pavmaster and qiiarter-master-general, and such other 
general stall as are accessary iu the formation of a regular 
army. 

About this time General Gage was reinforced by a detach- 
ment of troops from New- York, after which his whole army 
amounted to about eight thousand eflective men. But he made 
no attempt on the American lines, probably on account of the 
severe reception given to his troops at Breed's Hill. 

Both armies continued to work on their fortifications, with- 
out seriously molesting each other. Small skirmishes occasion- 
ally happened between the outposts. 

In the mean time the distress of the British army for provi- 
sions became very considerable. They could obtain none 
from the country, because all the avenues were strongly guard- 
ed. Several predatory parties sailed out of Boston, but as they 
were met by the militia wherever they landed, they could not 
relieve the wants of their countrymen, cooped up in town. 

In July, Georgia joined the confederacy ; after which the 
style of the Thirteen United Colonies was assumed. 

Congress, after a recess of one month, met again on the fifth 
of September. Immediately after their meeting, they exerted 
themselves in order to supply the army with arras, ammunition, 
and other things. They dispatched agents to the coast of 
Alrica, who purchased considerable quantities of powder at 
the British forts. They also caused a magazine in the island 
of Bermuda to be seized. Their eftbrts were also directed to 
the manufacture of powder. But all these measures, however, 
were inadequate to the demand. 

Orders had been issued in his Majesty's name, to the com- 
manders of ships of war, to burn such towns situated on the 
coast as should be found in arms. Accordingly, a small naval 
force, commanded by Captain Mowatt, sidled for Falmouth, a 
seaport town between Boston and Halifax, and reduced it te 
ashes. 



no HISTORY OF THE 

This measure was very strongly reprobated throughout 
America, and was a mean of turning the attention of Congress 
to their marine. 

The convention of Massachusetts, however, before Congress 
took the matter up, granted letters of marque and reprisal. 

Congress, in the first instance, did not grant general letters, 
but directed such vessels as sailed out under their orders, to 
capture no ships, but such as were engaged in giving assistance 
to the enemy. 

A £ew small cruisers had already been fitted out by the di- 
rections of Washington, and the coast soon swarmed with the 
privateers of New England. Many captures were made, and 
very important supplies of ammunition were thus obtained. 
The cruisers of Massachusetts were very successful ; and the 
enemy, who had not been under any apprehension of attacks, 
smarted severely under these first essays of colonial maritime 
warfare. 

Captain Manly was remarkable fortunate. He made many 
very valuable captures of vessels loaded with military stores, 
among which was a large ship, having on board arms and am- 
munition, with a considerable assortment of such w orking tools, 
utensils, and machines, as were most needed in the American 
camp. 

These captures, and others, increased the distress of the Bri- 
tish troops very much, 

Mr. Tryon, who was very popular in the province of New- 
York, and who had recently been recalled from his government 
of North Carolina, and appointed governor, arrived. This 
step had been taken by the English cabinet, under an expecta- 
tion that he would be able to calm the disturbances, and detach 
the colony from the confederacy. He, on his arrival, exerted 
all his influence, and this was seconded in no small degree by 
the Asia, man-of-war, whose guns commanded the city. Con- 
siderable disafi'ection soon began to manifest itself, and it was 
not without some difficulty that he was compelled to take re- 
fuge on board of a ship then in the harbour. 
• The temper shown by the royalists in the colony of New- 



STATE OF NEW- YORt. Ill 

Tork, excited fears respecting the Highlands on the Hudson, a 
post at that time of vital importance. The convention, which 
was then in session, submitted to Congress a plan for their oc- 
cupation by a military force. This plan was warmly seconded 
by Congress, who recommended that works should be imme- 
diatf ly constructed. Two regiments were directed to be levied 
in l\ew-Jersey, on the continental establishment, to serve for 
one year, and a detachment was ordered to the Hudson. 

But the subject, whicli next to the supply of arms and ammu- 
nition, most interested the Congress, was the re-enlislment of the 
army at Boston. 

Their early attention to this very interesting object had been 
most earnestly solicited by Washington. A committee had 
been appointed to repair to the camp at Cambridge, to consult 
with him, and with the chief magistrates of New England, on 
the most effectual mi thod of continuing, supporting and regu- 
lating the army. Unlortunately, in constituting the first mili- 
tary establishment, an essential error was committed. The en- 
listments, instead of being for the continuance of the war, were 
only for the term of one year. Hence the men, generally, on 
the expiration of the period for which they had enlisted, return- 
ed home. The enthusiastic ardour which had brought such 
numbers into the field, after the battle of Lexington, was be- 
ginning to abate, and serious apprehensions were entertained, 
whether the army would be able to keep its present position. 
In this trying situation, Washington, conformable to the plan, 
sent out recruiting officers into all parts of the New England 
provinces. This service, however, went on very slowly. The 
difficulty of recruiting the army was greatly increased by the 
danger apprehended from the small pox. Notwithstanding all 
the difficulties and discouragements under which he laboured, 
the army in the course of the winter was considerably aug- 
mented. 

In the mean time Washington caused Plowed Hill, Cobble 
Hill and Lechmere's Point, to be occupied, and carried his ap- 
proaches within half a-raile of the enemy's works at Bunker'g 
Hill. 



112 IlISTOKif OF THE 

The British arm}', under General Howe, who, on the recall of' 
General Gage, in October, had succeeded to the command of 
it, remained inactive in Boston, and was still closely blocked 
upon ihe land-side b}'^ the Americans. 

1776. — In the beginning of February, the whole effective 
force under Washington, independent of militia, consisted of 
€ight thousand eight hundred and fifty-three men. Of this 
force, nearly two thousand were without arms of any kind. 

About this time General Lee marched from Connecticut to 
New-York, with twelve hundred men. On his arrival a com- 
mittee of three, from the local government, waited on him, in 
order to consult with him, and the council of safety, respecting 
the defence of the place. At this consuhation it was agreed to 
fortify some commanding part of the city, to be occupied by 
two thousand men ; to erect inclosed batteries on both sides of 
Hellgate, so as to protect the town on that side, and secure a 
communication with Long Island, where it was proposed to form 
a camp for three thousand men, and also to make the defences 
of the Highlands as strong as possible, and to post one battal- 
ion in them. 

General Clinton arrived about the same time from Boston, 
but without troops. He gave out that no hostilities were de- 
signed against the city of New-York, and that he was only on 
a visit to see his friend Tryon. 

The fortifications for the defence of the city of New-York, 
were prosecuted with great vigour. 

Towards the latter end of February, there were various ap- 
pearances among the British troops at Boston, which denoted 
an intention on their part of evacuating that place. 

The effective force, under Washington, about this time, was 
rather over fourteen thousand men, exclusive of six thousand 
militia, which had been lately called out. He, therefore, deter- 
mined on taking more efficient measures against the enemy, 
arid for this purpose, detached a body of his men to take pos- 
session of Dorchester heights, which command part of the har- 
bour. This being accomplished, he seized on Nook's Hill, 
which he caused to be fortified. The possession of these hillsy 



I 



STATE OF MEW-VeRK. 113 

gave the armv the command of Boston harbour. InDmediately 
ailer, he began a heavy bombardniont and cannonade on the 
town, and the lines of the enemy. On the night of the fourth 
of March, a detachment of the American army, under General 
Thomas, crossed the neck from Roxbury, and took possession 
of the iieights, and began to fortify ihem. When daylight dis- 
closed their operations to the British, a considerable degree of 
embarrassment appeared, and an ineffectual fire was commenc- 
ed on the detachment. This fire was returned on them. 

The British general now perceived that it was necessary 
either to dislodge them or evacuate the town. He, therefore, 
sent Lord Percy, with three thousand men, to effect this, but 
the transports which carried the troops, being dispersed by a 
storm, the enterprise fell through. On the seventeenth day of 
March, the enemy evacuated the town, it being no longer tena- 
ble. The recovery of this important town was an event that 
gave universal joy. 

We shall now return to the operations in the north. So 
early as the month of June, 1775, Congress passed a resolution, 
directing General Schuyler to repair to Ticonderoga, and take 
measures for securing that post and Crown Point, and for re- 
taining the command of Lake Champlain. He was, at the same 
time, authorized, if he should find it practicable, to take posses- 
sion of St. Johns and Montreal. 

Three thousand men from New-York and New England, to be 
commanded under General Schuyler, by Brigadiers Montgom- 
ery and W'ooster, were designed for this expedition. These 
troops assembled at Ticonderoga, where batteaux were coii' 
structed for their transportation. 

General Schuyler repaired to that place, and assumed the 
command. Soon after his arrival. Congress instructed him to 
invade the province without delay. 

Before the preparations were complete, the impatience ex- 
j)ressed by some friends in Canada, seemed to render an im- 
mediate movement advisable. General Schuyler had returned 
to Albany to hold a convention with the Indians, who had man- 
ifested some hostile dispositions, when he received a 6,ommuuir 
VOb. II L 15 



114 HISTORY OF TliO: 

cation from General Montgomery. Orders were immediately 
given to embark with the troops, and General Schuyler liavint? 
directed the expected reinforcements, to rendezvous at the Isle 
Aux Noix, twelve miles south of St. Johns, joined him before 
he reacheii that place. 

The American force, consisting of one thousand men, with- 
out artillery, embarked on the Sorel, on the sixth of Septem- 
ber, and proceeding towards St. Johns, debarked within a mile 
and a-halfof that place, in a swamp, from whence they maxh- 
ed towards the fort, fer the purpose of reconnoitering its situa- 
tion. On their march they were suddenly attacked by a body 
of Indians, whom they dispersed ; after which they threw up a 
small jntrenchment and encamped for the night. The inttlli- 
gence received at this place, determined the general to return 
to tlie Isle Aux JNoix, and there await the arrival of the remain- 
ing troops, and some artillery, which he expected. 

1 he Isle Aux Noix lies in the Sorel, just below its issue out 
of Lake Champlain — and to prevent the armed vessels at St. 
Johns from entering the latter, a boom was drawn across the 
channel. 

In consequence of the indisposition of General Schuyler the 
command now devolved on Montgomery. 

A Mr. Livingston, residing on tlie Sorel, below Chamblee, 
who was strongly attached to the American cause, pressed se 
earnestly for a detachment from the army, to cut off the com- 
munication oetween St. Johns and La Prairie, that a party was 
ordered out for that service. But the troops being seized with 
one >f those panics to which new levies are so liable, fled back 
to thf Cciiiip. 

Liviotiston, in the mean time, calculating on the aid for 
which he had applied, had collected about three hundred Ca- 
nadian volunteers, and grew very apprehensive of being left to 
the whole force of the enemy. 

Montgomery, on the twenty-fifth day of September, embark- 
ed with two thousand men and some pieces of cannon, and pro- 
ceeded to invest St. Johns. This place was garrisoned by 
about eight hundred men, and was well provided with artillery 



STAri: OF Ni;w-Yi>i{K. 115 

and military stores. The army under Muntgoniery, as well 
as the oilier armies of the eoJDuics, was illy supplied with pow- 
der. The reduction of Chamblee, a sm;ill fort farther down 
the Sorel, in which was found one lunuired and twenty barrels 
of powder, afforded a temporary relief This place was cap- 
tured by three hundred and fift}' Americans and Canadians, 
commanded by Majors Biowu and Livingston. 

Montgomery pressed the siege of St. Johns, the garrison of 
which made a resolute defence under an expectation of relief 

Colonel M'Clean raised a regiment of Highlanders in the 
province of Canada, and encamped near the mouth of the 
Sorel, where he was joined b}' several hundred Canadians. 
General Carlton, the governor of Canada, was at Montreal, 
where he had assembled about one thousand men, mostly Cana- 
dians. Among these were some regulars and volunteers, and 
several British ofiicers. At the head of these he hoped to effect a 
junction with M'Clean, after which he designed to march with 
his whole force against Montgomery, and endeavour to compel 
him to raise the siege ; but, on attempting to cross over from 
Montreal, he was totally defeated at Longue Isle, by a detach- 
ment of Americans under Colonel 'vVarner. Another detach- 
ment of Americans advanced on M'Clean, and compelled him 
to retreat in the direction of Quebec. 

On receipt of this intelligence, Montgomery sent one of the 
prisoners into the fort with a letter to Major Preston, the com- 
mandant, requiring him to surrender. All hopes of relief hav- 
ing now vanished, the garrison capitulated. 

After the reduction of St. Johns, Montgomery proceeded 
against Montreal. This place, which was not in a condition 
to resist, capitulated on the thirteenth of November. Governor 
Carlton retired to his flotilla. While preparations were making 
to attack the flotilla, Carlton made his escape in a dark night, 
in a boat, down the river. The flotilla soon after surrendered 
to Colonel Easton. 

At Montreal many of his soldiers left him, their time of ser- 
vice having expired ; and Montgomery had the extreme morti- 
ficaiion to fmd that there would be little over three huiidrefi 



1I& HISTORY OP THE 

men to accompany him to Quebec, after deducting the garri- 
sons of St. Johns, Chamblee, and Montreal. 

Washington, in \ugust, had projected ao expedition against 
Qiifchec. The command of the troops destined for this impor- 
tant object was committed to Colonel Arnold. The number ot 
men amounted to one thousand. Colonel Burr, late Vice- 
President of the United Slates, accompanied Arnold. They 
were to proceed from the camp before Boston to Kennebeck 
river, and thence up that river to the mountains, v;hich they 
were to cross, and then advance down the river Chandiere to 
Quebec. But the diOicuUies to be surmounled were far greater 
than had been anticipated. The country had not been suffi- 
cieiitly explored, and it oppo-ed obstacles to the march, which 
only perseverance like that of Arnold and his intrepid followers, 
could have vanquished. Colonel Enos, who commanded the 
rear division, consisting of one-third of the detachment, desert- 
ed from Dead river, a branch of Kennebeck, with his men ; and 
though his appearance at first excited the greatest indignation 
in the army, yet on being arrested, he was acquitted by a 
court-martial, on the ground that provisions could not be had 
on the route to preserve the men from starvation. 

Arnold, who at the head of the two first divisions still prose- 
cuted his march, was thirty-two days traversing the wilderness, 
without seeing a single house or human being. The troops 
were under the necessity of hauling their batteaux up rapid 
streams; of taking them on their shoulders, with their provi- 
sions, across carrying places; and of traversing and frequently 
repassing, for the purpose of bringing their baggage, deep 
morasses, thick woods, and high mountains. These impedi- 
menis, notwithstanding the wonderful exertions of his men, so 
protracted his march, that he did not reach the settlements on 
the Chaudiere before the third of November, eighteen days 
later than he had expected. 

After so arduous a march, of which history scarcely furnishes 
a parallel, Arnold halted no longer than to allow his men a 
short repose, and then proceeding down the Chaudiere, he ar- 
rived at Point Levi, opposite Quebec, on the 9th of November. 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. IH 

The city was almost without a garrison, and the inhabitants 
were in the utmost consternation on beholding these luen 
emerge from the woods. 

Coulil Arnold have immediatclv passed the St. Lawrence, it is 
believed that he might have entered the city without opposition ; 
but a very high wind, and the want of boats, prevented liim. 

Jn the mean time, the wind for several nights continued so 
high as to render the passage of the river in canoes, collected 
from the people of the country and found on the southern bank, 
too hazardous to be attempted ; and it was only in the night 
that he could hope to cross, because a frigate had anchored 
opposite the town, and three other armed vessels were distri- 
buted in stations, so as to guard the passage of the river for 
some distance. Whilst thus detained, Colonel M'Clean enter- 
ed the city with his regiment of Hijzldanders. 

At length the wind abated, and Arnold leaving behind him 
one hundred and fifty men to make ladders, determined to at- 
tempt a passage. Eluding the armed vessels, he, with infinite 
difficulty and danger, crossed over in the night, and landed the 
van of his little army about a mile and a-half above the city. 
Tiie passage of the rugged cliffs, which continue on the left 
bank of the St. Lawrence, for some distance above Quebec, 
being at this place absolutely impracticable, he marched down 
on the shore to Wolfe's Cove, and ascending the precipice with 
his men, formed on the heights near the plain of Abraham. 
Lieutenants Humphries and Heath, who had been detached 
towards the town for the purpose of reconnoitering, soon re- 
ported that the centinals were at their posts. 

Though disappointed in the expectation of surprising Que- 
bec, Arnold did not immediately rehnguish the liope of obtain- 
ing possession of that in)portant place. Not superior to (he 
enemy in numbers, and without one peice of cannon or other 
implements for a seige, he was incapable of doing any thing; 
but he flattered himself that a defection in the garrison might 
yet put the place into his hands. With this view he paraded 
on the heights for some days, and sent two flags to summon it 
to surrender. But the presence of Colonel M'Clean, an ex- 



118 HISTORY OF THE 

perlenced and vigilent officer, and who was indcratigable iu 
making arrangments for the defence of the town, restrained 
those measures which the fears of the inhabitants dictated. 
Deeming it unsafe to admit of any communication with the 
assailants, he refused to receive the flag, and fired on the officer 
who bore it. Fears for the vast property contained in the town, 
soon united the disaffected, and they were, at their own request, 
embodied and armed. The sailors too, were landed and placed 
at the batteries, and by these means the garrison had become 
more numerous than the Americans. 

Arnold, whose numbers, after collecting those he had left on 
the south side of the river, did not exceed seven hundred men, 
was in no condition to hazard a battle. His ammunition was 
also very short. In this critical situation, he was informed 
that two hundred men, who had escaped from Montreal, were 
descending the river; and that M*Clean intended making a 
sortie at the head of the garrison. Under these circumstances, 
he deemed it most prudent to retire to Point Aux Trembles, 
twenty miles above Quebec, and there await the arrival of Mont- 
gomery. 

General Montgomery having secured Montreal, proceeded 
at the head of three hundred men, to join Colonel Arnold, at 
Point Aux Trembles, after which they marched to Quebec. 
But before their arrival. Gov. Carlton had entered the town, 
and was making every preparation for a vigorous defence. 
The garrison now consisted of about fifteen hundred men. — 
Montgomery's effective force did not exceed eight hundred men. 
On his first appearance before the town, he addressed a letter to 
Carlton and demanded a surrender. The determination to 
hold no communication with the Americans was still persevered 
in, and the flag was fired on. 

The situation of Montgemery was extremely hazardous. 
The severe cold had set in, and the troops were badly clothed 
and badly housed. He determined, however, to lay seige to 
the place. In a few days he opened a six gun battery, within 
seven hundred yards of the walls ; but his artillery was too light 
to make a breach. 



STATK OK NEW-YORK. 119 

Montgomery finding it impracticable to take the place by 
a seige, determined to storm it. In pursuance of this determi- 
nation, he divided his little army into four parts ; two of these, 
consisting of Canadians, under Majors Livingston and Brown, 
were to distract the attention of the garrison, by making two 
feints against the upper town at St. John's and Cape Diamond; 
the other two, the one led by Montgomery and the other by 
Arnold, were to make real attacks on opposite sides of the 
lower town. 

Between four and five in the morning of December 31st, 
1775, the signal was given, and the several divisions moved to 
the assault under a violent storm of snow. The plan was so 
well concerted, that from the side of the river St. Lawrence, 
along the fortified front round to the basin, every part seemed 
equally threatened. Montgomery, at the head of the New- 
York troops, advanced along tlie St. Lawrence, by the way of 
Aunce de Mere, under Cape Diamond. The first barrier to be 
surmounted on this side was at the Pot Ash. It was defended 
by a battery, in which were mounted a few pieces of cannon, 
about two hundred yards in front of which was a block-house 
and picket. The guard placed at the block-house being chiefly 
Canadians, fired and fled to the barrier. The difficulties of the 
route rendered it impossible for Montgomery to avail himself of 
the first impression. Cape Diamond, around which he was to 
make his v/ay, presents a precipice, the base of which is laved 
by the river, where large piles of ice had been raised, so as to* 
render the way very difficult. The Americans pressed forward 
till they reached the block-house and picket. Here he had to 
halt a few minutes, in order to collect his men. Having re- 
assembled about two hundred, he advanced at their head to 
force the barrier. One or two persons had now ventured to re- 
turn to the battery ; and seizing a slow match, discharged a- 
fcannon when the American front was within forty yards. 1'he 
General, with Captains M'Pherson and Cheesman, the first of 
whom was his aid, together with his orderly sergeant, and a 
private, were killed. Colonel Campbell, on whom the com- 
mand now devolved, retreated precipitately from the city, leav- 



12* HISTORY OF THE 

ing the garrison at liberty to turn their whole force against 
Arnold. 

The party commanded by Arnold advanced along tlie street 
of St. Roques, towards the St des IVlatelots. He led the ad- 
vance, followed by Captain Lamb. At the Saint des Matelois 
the enemy had constructed their first barrier, and had mountt-d 
two cannons. The path had been rendered very narrow by 
large masses of ice thrown up on the side of Charles river, and 
by the works erected by life enemy on the other. In this order 
Arnold marched along the St. Charles against the battery. 
Tiie alarm was immediately given, and the fire on his flank 
commenced. As he approached the barrier he received a mus- 
ket ball in the leg, which shattered the bone, and he was car- 
ried off the field. Captain Morgan, at the head of his riflemen, 
rushed forward and carried the battery. He then formed his 
men, and a i'ew others, and entered the town. Here they were 
joined by Colonel Greene and Majors Bigelowand Meigs, wiih 
portions of compiuies, constituting about two hundred men. 

As the dawn of day began, they attempted to scale the second 
barrier, but in consequence of a tremendous fire from the ene- 
my, they were compelled to desist. They then endeavoured to 
retreat, but a portion of the garrison, consisting of two hundred 
men, having made a sortie, and captured Capiain Dearborne, 
and his company, who had been stationed near the palace gate, 
prevented them. Under these circumstances they wjere forced 
to surrender. 

In this bold and unsuccessful attack on Quebec, the Ameri- 
cans lost four hundred men, of whom sixty were killed. The 
whole of Arnold's division, with the exception of some officers 
who attended him to the hospital, fell into the hands of the ene- 
my. According to the account of Carleton, the enemy's loss 
was only eighteen killed and wounded. Captain Hendricks, 
of the Pennsylvania riflemen, and Lieutenant Humphries, of 
Morgan's company, and Lieutenant Cooper, of Connecticut, 
were among the slain. 

Richard Montgomery, whose short but brilliant career was 
uow fipished, was a native of Ireland, and had served with re- 



STAIL: of NEW-YORK. 12l 

putation in the late war. After its conclusion, he settled in the 
province of New York, where he murritd an American lady, 
and took aver}' decided part with tlie colonies in their contest 
wiih Gnat Britnin. At the head of a small body of undisci- 
piiiied troops, in little more than two months he had made him- 
sell master of Canada, from the lakes to (:^nebec. 

The American army, after this disaster, was no longer in a 
situation to continue the siege. At fnst. they were so alarmed, 
that about one hundred set out for Montreal. With difficulty 
Arnohl retained the others ; but tlicy broke up their camp, and 
retired about three miles from the city ; where, though very in- 
ferior to the garrison, they kept it in a state of blockade, and in 
the course of the winter reduced it to great distress. 

Governor Carleton, who acquired and deserved great repu- 
tation by the fortitude discovered in defending Quebec, and 
who only wished to preserve the place until the reinforcements 
he expected in the spring should arrive, and enable him to act 
offensively, very prudently determined not to hazard an attack ; 
and Arnold, on whom the command now devolved, remained 
undisturbed, except by occasional sorties made by small par- 
ties, which always retreated precipitately under their guns as 
soon as he advanced. Although severely wounded, he retained 
his courage and activity, and though deserted by those whose 
time of service had expired, so as to be reduced at one time to 
about five hundred effective men, and no longer supported by 
the Canadians, he discovered no disposition to sink under ad- 
verse fortune. 



See Ramsey's Hiftory of tJie Rcvolntioii. \Vill>'am«' Hirfory of Verjnont:. 
and Maifh.iir-- LUe of WafhTVss-ton. 



VOL. HI. 16 



122 HISTORV OF 'I'HE 



CHAPTER V. 

CoJigress evince a determination to continue the war in Canada 

— Troops levied to reinforce the army in Canada — General 
Arnold nsumes the investment of (Quebec — General Thomas 
succeeds Arnold — General Carleton receives reinj or cements- — 
Thomas raises the siege of (Quebec, and retires to Three Rivers 

— Carleton leaves (Quebec with the British army, and pursues 
the Americans — The Americans retire from Three Rivers to 
the Sorei — Upon the death of General Thomas the command 
devolves on General Sulhvan — TAe Americans fall back on 
the Isle Aux Noix, and sooji after iqjon Crown Point — Pro- 
ceedings in the southern states — The British make aii attack 
on Charleston in South Carolina, and are repulsed — Wash- 
ington repairs to Aew- York — Preiyarations made to oppose 
the enemy, in case of their attempting any thing against that 
place — Declaration of Indep evidence — General Howe and Ad- 
miral Howe arrive at Satidy Hook — The British take Siatcn 
Island — Battle of Long Island — The city of New-York 
evacuated by ffashington — Fort fVashington surrenders- — 
Battle of ifhite Plains — Fort Lee abandoned — Washington 
retires across New-Jersey, after being abandoned by most of 
his troops, and takes post on the west side of the Delaware — 
He recrosses that river, and surprises the Hessians at Trenton 
— 7'Ae enemy defeated at Princeton — The campaign closes. 

January, 1776. — Congress determined to keep up in Canada 
nine battalions, for the ensuing campaign, including one to be 
raised in New-York. In pursuance of this, General Schuyler 
was ordered to have constructed at Ticonderoga, a number oF 
batteaui, for the purpose of transporting the troops to Canada. 
To complete the nine battalions voted for this service, one from 
Pennsylvania and one from New- Jersey, were ordered to march 
forthwith to Albany ; two others were to be formed of the troops 



aiATE OF Nt:\V-YC)RK. 123 

will) Arnold, mid the remaining number to be raised, one in 
Pennsslvania, and the others in iNevv-YorU :ui(i New England. 

February, 177G. — The service in Canada was deemed of too 
much importance lo' be iiilrnsted to Colonel, now Brigadier 
Arnold, or to General VVooster, and the heahh of General 
Schuyler would not admit of his proceeding to (Quebec. Gene- 
ral Lee was therefore ordered to take command of the army. 
But before General Lee could enter on this service, the oppo- 
site extreme of the union was so menaced by the enemy, that 
the destination of that oflicer was changed, and he was ordered 
to take command in the southern department. Major-general 
Thomas was appointed to command in Canada. 

Jn the hope ot exciting in the province of Canada the senti- 
ments which prevailed throughout the United Colonies, and of 
persuading the inhabitants to join in the confederacy. Dr. 
Franklin, Mr. Chase, and Mr. Carrol were deputed as commis- 
sioners, to treat on this subject. 

In the mean time, Arnold kept up the blockade of Quebec. 
In March reinforcements arrived, so that his army amounted to 
seventeen hundred men, but it was very inefficient. The 
Canadians became disaffected, and little pains were taken to 
conciliate them. 

General Carleton, who was no stranger to the revolution 
which was taking place in the minds of the Canadians, enter- 
tained the hope of raising the siege by their assistance. A de- 
tachment of about sixty men, from the garrison, landed twelve 
leagues below the town on the south side of the river, and were 
joined by about two hundred and fifty Canadians, under the 
command of a Mr. I'jeaujieu, seized a provision convoy designed 
for the American camp. They were rapidly increasing, when 
they were suddenly attacked by a detachment sent by Arnold, 
of abo«t eight hundred men, under Major Dubois, who dispers- 
ed them. 

General Arnold recommenced active operations in order to 
renew the siege. He caused batteries to be erected, but on the 
first day of April, as he was about opening them. General 
Wooster arrived from MoatreaJ, and took the command. The 



124 HISTORY 01' THli 

iifxt day he caused them to be opened, bul without mucii 
effect. 

The day after the arrival of Wooster, Arnold's horse foil with 
him, and so bruised his leg as to confine him for some time. 
Supposing himself to be neglected, he obtained leave of absence 
and assumed the command at Montreal. 

Some fire ships had been prepared both at Orleans and 
Puint Aiix Trembles, to be used against the enemy's vessels iu 
the harbour, so soon as the ice would permit. The attempt 
was afterwards made, but proved abortive, owing to tlie ignoi*- 
ance of the sailors. 

About he middle of April, a considerable part of the army 
left the service, their time having expired. 

General Thomas arrived on tlie first of May; the whole force 
only amounted to one thousand nine hundred men. 

In consequence of this force being divided, and distributed 
at different posts, which it was necessary to maintain, he found 
it impossible to assemble at a single point over three hundred 
men. There were but one hundred and fifty barrels of powder 
and six days provisions, nor could supplies be had from the Ca- 
nadians. The river too was beginning to open below, and no 
doubts were entertained but the enemy would receive relief. — 
Amidst these circumstances, the hope of taking Quebec ap- 
peared to General Thomas utterly impossible, and a longer 
continuance before the town, dangerous. Thus circumstanc- 
ed, he called a council on the fifth of May, in which it was 
unanimously determined to abandon the siege, and retire up 
the river to Three River Poin}, or some other intermediate 
place, and there make a stand. 

On the next day, five J^ritish ships arrived with part of the in- 
tended supplies and reinforcements. At one o'clock on the same 
day, General Carlton made a sortie at the head of one thousand 
men. General Thomas resolved not to liazard an action, and 
therefore ordered a retreat. This was done with so much pre- 
cipitation, that many of the sick, with all the military stores, 
fell into the hands of the enemy. Two tons of powder and 



STATE OF NK\V-Yf)RK. 125 

live hundred stand of arms, just sent by General Schuyler, also 
ft'll into their hands. 

Much to the honour of General Carlton, he treated the sick, 
wounded, and other prisoners that Cell into his hands, with great 
kindness, gentleness and humanity. 

The American army continued to retreat to de Chambeau, 
where, on the seventh, another council was called, in which it 
was agreed, that they should retire to the mouth of the Sore). 
By this time the ships of the enemy had ascended as far up the 
river as Jacques Cartier, only three leagues from where the 
army then was. Gt-neral Thomas, after removing his sick, it 
seems, determined to continue in his present position some 
longer. He was induced to do this in consequence of informa- 
tion which he received, of large reinforcements being now on 
their way to join him. But the enemy advancing on liim soon 
after, he was obliged to resume liis retreat to the Sorel, where 
he shortly after died of the small-pox. 

Whilst the power of the Americans in Canada was thus 
visably declining, and their troops forced to retire from the 
vicinity of Quebec by superior numbers, a calamity entirely 
unlooked for belel them, in a different quarter of that pro- 
vince. 

As the English were still in possession of the posts on the 
upper St. Lawrence and on the lakes, it became necessary to 
station a body of troops above Montreal in order to prevent an 
attack from that quarter. A point of land called tiie Cedars, 
about forty miles above Montreal, was selected. This point 
projects deep into the St. Lawrence, and can only be approach- 
ed on one side. To this place General Arnold, who command- 
ed at Montreal, delachtd three hundred and ninety men, with 
two field pieces, under Colonel Bedel, with directions to con- 
struct works and fortify the position. An expedition against 
this post was planned by a Captain Forster, who commanded 
at Osvvegatchie, at the mouth of the river of tiiat name. He 
set out on this expedition with one conipany of regulars and 
some Indians, and having prevailed on the Caughnewagas, 
who inhabited some part of the intermediate country, to join 



126 IlISTOErY OF THE 

him, he appeared before the works of the Americans with four, 
or five hundred men. Two days before his appearance, Colo- 
nel Bedel had received information of liis approach, and having 
left the fort to be commanded by Major Butterfield, had pro- 
ceeded down the river to Montreal to solicit aid. Arnold im- 
mediately sent Major Sherburne to the Cedars, with one hun- 
dred men, while he made dispositions to go in person with a 
much greater force. 

Captain Forster, on his first appearance, sent in a flag, re- 
quiring a surrender, and Major Butterfield proposed to capitu- 
late, and give up the place, provided he might be allowed to 
withdraw with his troops and baggage to Montreal. These 
terms were sternly refused, and the enemy being without can- 
non, made an attack with musketry. B3' this mode of attack 
no serious impression was made, and in the course of two 
days only one man was wounded. Yet, unaccountable as it 
may appear, Major Butterfield, intimidated by the threat, that 
if any Indians should be killed during the siege, it would be 
out of the power of Captain Forster to restrain them from mas- 
sacreing every individual of the garrison, consented to surren- 
der, bv which he and his whole party were made prisoners of 
war. 

The next day Major Sherburne approached, Vv'ithout having 
obtained any information of Butterfield's ignominious surren- 
der. Within four miles of the Cedars, he was suddenly attack- 
ed by a body of Indians, and he, after a conflict of one hour, 
was compelled to surrender at discretion. 

Upon intelligence of these events, General Arnold, at the 
head of seven hundred men, marched from Montreal, against 
the enemy, then at Vaudreuil, in expectation of driving them 
back, and recovering the prisoners. When preparing for the 
engagement, he received a flag, accompanied by Major Sher- 
burne, giving him the most positive assurances, that if he attack- 
ed the enemy, it would be entirely out of the power of Captain 
Forster to prevent his savages from putting every American 
prisoner to death. Under the influence of this menace, which 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 127 

would have been carried into effect, had Arnold persisted, he 
desisted and agreed to an exchange of prisoners. 

After the death of General Thomas, the American army, at 
the mouth of the Sorel, was speedily augmented by the expect- 
ed reinforcement, to four or five thousand men. On the fourth 
ol June, General Sullivan arrived, and the command devolved 
0n him. 

General Sullivan, from the friendship evinced by the Cana- 
dians, imagined that great numbers of them would join the 
American standard, and that he should be able to recover the 
post of de Chambeau. But before this could be done, it was 
necessary to dislodge the enemy from the post which they occu- 
pied at Three Rivers. 

Carleton, it will be seen, had not been able to follow the 
Americans after they had raised the siege of Quebec, and retired 
up the St. Lawrence. Towards the latter end of May, how- 
ever, he was joined by large reinforcements, and found himself 
at the head of thirteen thousand men. He immediately pre- 
pared to commence offensive operations. The general rendez- 
vous of his forces was at Three Rivers, a place situated nearly 
midway between Quebec and Montreal. His army was great- 
ly divided. General Frazer had reached this place with a 
considerable body. General Nesbit, with another body on 
board of transports lay near them, while General Carleton, with 
the main body, accompanied by the Generals Burgoyne, Philips 
and Reidesel, was on his way from Quebec. 

General Thompson, who had commanded the army after 
the illness of General Thomas, understanding that the party at 
Three Rivers consisted only of eight hundred men, under Colo- 
nel M'Clean, had detached Colonel St. Clair, with about seven 
hundred men, to attack his camp. This officer proceeded to 
ISicolet, where finding himself not strong enough to make 
the attack, encamped until he should receive succors or addi- 
tional instructions. At this time. General Sullivan came up,* 
and learning that the enemy were very weak, ordered General 
Thompson to join St. Clair, with fourteen hundred men, anrf 



]28 HISIOKY OF THE 

then march to Three Rivers, and attack the enemy, provided 
there was a prospect of success. 

General Thompson, after having joined Colonel St. Clair, 
imagining himself strong enough to drive the enemy from that 
place, proceeded down the St. Lawrence in boats by night, and 
landed a little after daylight, which was later than he had in- 
tended. He was discovered at the landing, and an alarm was 
given. His troops were fired on by the ships in the river, to 
avoid which, he endeavoured to lead them through what ap- 
peared to be a point of woods, but, was in reality, a deep mo- 
rass, three miles in extent. This occasioned considerable de- 
lay, and some confusion among his men. This gave General 
Fraxer an opportunity to prepare to meet them, while General 
Nesblt, fell on their rear, and cut off their return to their boats. 
Having passed the morass, Thompson attacked the forces un- 
der Frazer, but was repulsed and forced to retreat. Thomp- 
son and Colonel Irwin, second in command, with about two 
hundred men, were made prisoners, and from twenty to thirty 
were killed. Colonel St. Clair, with great difficulty, effected a 
retreat with about eighteen hundred men. 

The American army in Canada, about the middle of June, 
amounted to eight thousand men, but of these not above one- 
half were fit for duty. Considerable insubordination prevail- 
ed, and the troops were much dispirited by their late disasters. 
Under all these circumstances, General Sullivan formed the 
rash determination of defending the post at Sorel; and was 
only induced by the unanimous opinion of his ofUcers to aband- 
on it a few hours before the arrival of the enemy. He retreat- 
ed up the Sorel, first to Chamblee, then to St. JoVns, and lastly 
to the Isle Aux Noix, where he resolved to remain till he should 
receive orders to retreat. In his retreat from the post at Sorel, 

he was joined by General Arnold from Montreal. 

The selection of the Isle Aux Noix by General Sullivan, 
*was extremely injudicious, in consequence of its low, wet and 

unhealthy situation. The troops soon after compelled him to 

remove to the Isle Lamotte, where he received orders to embaric 

and return to Crown Point. 



St ATE OF NEW- YORK. 12Q 

The Briiisli army, during this whole retreat, followed close 
ia rear, and took possession of the different posts the Americans 
had evacuated. 

As the Americans had the command of the lake, Carleton 
deemed it advisable to halt at St. Johns till he could build 
and equip a fleet sufficiently strong to give him the ascend- 
ency. 

Meanwhile General Gates was ordered to take the command. 
Six thousand militia were detached by New-York and New 
England, to reinforce the army. 

July, 1776— Whilst the war was going on in the north, the 
southern colonies were not exempted. In Virginia, Lord 
Dunmore, the governor, assembled a considerable force, con- 
sisting of the disaffected and negroes, and commenced a pre- 
datory warfare. For some time he was successful, in conse- 
quence ot a naval force which he had. 

He made an attempt to burn Hampton, but was repulsed. 
His lordship then proclaimed martial law. A body of militia 
collected to oppose him, were dispersed, and he flattered himself 
that he should soon be able to subjugate the lower country. 

Intelligence of these transactions being received at Williams- 
burgh, a regiment of continentals, and two hundred minute-men, 
were ordered down under the command of Colonel Woodford. 
Hearing of their approach, Lord Duimiore took a position on 
the north side of Elizabeth river, at the Great Bridge, where 
it was necessary for the Americans to pass in order to reach 
Norfolk, where his lordship had his head-quarters. Here he 
erected a small fort on a piece of ground surrounded by a 
marsh, and only accessible by a causeway. The Americans, on 
arriving in its vicinity, took post within cannon shot at the 
south end of the causeway, where they constructed a breast- 
york. 

Both parties remained inactive for some days. Lord Dun- 
more, who entertained the same contempt for the Americans 
that the rest of his countrymen did, ordered Captain Fordyce, 
the commanding officer at the Great Bridge, to storm the works 
erected by Colonel Woodford. About sunrise this officer, with 
roL. Ilf. 17 



130 IirSTORY OF THE 

an inferior force, advanced on the causeway to tiie breast-work, 
and endeavoured to carry it, but he was repulsed and lost his life. 

The next night the fort was abandoned, and the Americans 
proceeded to Norfolk, when Lord Dunmore found it necessary 
to take refuge on board his vessels. 

Irritated by the firing of some Amerib&ti soldiers into his 
vessels, which then lay in the harbour, and other causes, his 
lordship caused the town to be set on fire, by which about four- 
fifths were destroyed. Soon after this, Colonel Howe, who 
commanded at this place, was directed by the convention to 
burn the residue, which he did, and then abandoned it. Thus 
was destroyed the largest and most opulent town in X^irgiuia. 

After the burning of Norfolk, Lord Dunmore changed his 
position, and carried on his predatory warfare along the rivers, 
creeks, and bays in the lower country, robbing and firing 
houses. About this time, the military force of Virginia was 
augmented to nine regiments. 

In North Carolina, Governor Martin, though obliged to take 
refuge on board a ship of war in Cape Fear river, still indulg- 
ed the hope of being able to reduce the colony. 

A body of men on the frontiers, styling themselves regula- 
tors, who were enemies to all government, had attempted by 
arms, before the existing war, to stop the administration of 
justice, and having failed, they had now become as hostile to 
the colonial as they had before been to the royal government. 

There were also in the province a large number of High- 
landers from Scotland, who adhered to the royal cause. From 
the union of these parties, who were bold and active. Governor 
Martin entertained an opinion that he should be able, with 
some aid from abroad, to reduce the colony. Sir Flenry Clin- 
ton had orders to join him with a party. In addition to this, 
Lord Cornwallis was expected in South Carolina, with seven 
regiments. He sent several commissions to the leaders of the 
Highlanders, with directions to levy some regiments. He ap- 
pointed a Mr. M'Donald, their chief, a general. About the 
middle of February, M'Donald assembled fifteen hundred men 
at Cross Greek, where he erected the royal standard. 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. !81 

L'ljoii the liist advice, General Moore marched at the head of 
a continental regiment and some militia, and took post at Rocic 
Fish bridge, where he intrenched himself. General Al'Donald, 
relying on superior numbers, advanced against him. On his 
arrival, he sent a letter to him, requiring him to join the King's 
standard by the next day, under severe penalties. 

General Moore, knowing that the provincial forces were 
marching from all quarters to join him, protracted the negotia- 
tion. When at length the forces arrived, Moore gave him, for 
answer, that he should not accede, and ordered him to surren- 
der. 

M'Donald, perceiving the danger, suddenly decamped, and 
endeavoured to form a junction with Governor Martin, Lord 
Campbell, and Sir Henry Clinton, but being closely pursued 
by the Americans, he was forced to an engagement, in which 
he was totally defeated, and his men dispersed. 

This victory was of eminent service to the American cause in 
North Carolina, the royal party being entirely destroyed. 

In the beginning of June, the British fleet appeared before 
Charleston, and came to anchor. President Rutledge imme- 
diately dispatched couriers to call in the militia of the colony. 

The British experienced some difficulties in crossing the bar. 
This object being at length accomplished, operations were 
commenced against a fort on Sullivan's Island. 

During the interval between crossing the bar and attacking 
this fort, General Lee arrived, with a considerao lebody of con- 
tinental troops, which, together with the militia constituted a 
force of between five and six thousand men. 

After examining the post, General !jee was disinclined to 
hazard his army, by engaging it deeply in the defence of either 
the fort or town ; but in consequence of the great solicitude of 
the inhabitants, he was induced to sacrifice his own judg- 
ment. 

The works of defence were of great extent. Forts Johnson 
and Moultrie were defended by two regiments, under the com- 
mand of Colonels Gadsden and Moultrie ; Colonel Thompson, 
with eight hundred men, was stationed on the north part of 



182 HISTORY OF THE 

Sullivan's Isknd, where some works had been constructed ;v, 
and the remaining forces were arranged on Hadrell's Point, 
and along the bay, in front of the town. 

On the twenty-eighth of June, the British fleet attempted to 
pass Fort Moultrie, and enter the harbour, but was repulsed 
with great loss. Several of their ships were so much damaged, 
that they had to abandon them, after having set them on fire. 

A few days afterwards the British fleet sailed for New-York. 

Washington, after the evacuation of Boston, having left a 
small detachment at that place, under tJeneral Ward, hastened 
to New-YorK, where the main body of the American army was 
then assembling. 

The difficulty which had been experienced in expelling 
the enemy from Boston, induced him to adopt every measure 
in his power to prevent them from establishing themselves in 
New-York. For this purpose the city, and all the avenues 
leading to it, were fortified in the best manner the time and 
means would allow. 

The army in New-York was to be strengthened by requisi- 
tions of militia. A resolution was accordingly passed, to aug- 
ment it with thirteen thousand men, to be drawn from Massa- 
chusetts, Connecticut, New-York, and New-Jersey. Whilst 
the main army was engaged in the fortifications in and about 
New-lork, where it was apprehended the enemy might make an 
attack, Congress resolved to form, in the middle states, a camp, 
to be composed of ten thousand men, taken from the militia 
of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. The militia com- 
posing this camp, and those detached to augment and strengthen 
the army at New- York, were to serve to the first of December. 

Hitherto, the war had been carried on with the avowed wish 
of obtaining a redress of grievances. The utmost horror at 
the idea of attempting independence had been expressed, and 
the most anxious desire of establishing, on its ancient principles, 
the union which had so long subsisted between the two coun- 
tries, was openly declared. But, however sincere the wish to 
retain a political connexion with Great Britain might have been 
^t the conjmencement of the conflict, the operation on that senr 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. lliu 



t'lment was infallible. To profess allegiance and respect for a 
sovereign, wlio was endeavouring by force of arms to wrest 
from them all that rendered life valuable ; whilst every possible 
effort was making by arms to repel the attempt ; began to be 
lelt as an absurdity, and to maintain such a system was impos- 
sible. When the appeal was first made to arms, and the battle 
of Lexington was fought, a great majority of those who guided 
the councils and led the battalions of America, wished only for 
a repeal of the obnoxious acts of Parliament, and would have 
been unwilling to venture upon selt-government. Having im- 
bibed from education, strong prejudices in favour of the British 
iiation, and of the British constitution, they wished only to en- 
joy its substantial benefits. These, however, wore away rapid- 
ly, and were succeeded by republican principles and wishes for 
independence. Many essays appeared ii\ the papers calcul- 
ated to extend these opinions ; and a pamphlet, under the 
signature of common sense, written by Thoaias Paine, an En- 
glishman, who had lately come over to America, had particular 
influence. It was universally read, and among those who 
were zealous in the war, obtained every where friends to the 
doctrine of independence. New strength was every day add- 
ed to the opinion, that a reconciliation with Great Britain 
had become impossible ; that mutual confidence could never be 
restored ; that reciprocal jealousy, suspicion and hate would 
take and hold the place of that affection which could alone ren- 
der such a connexion happy and beneficial ; that even the lom- 
mercial dependence of America upon Britain was greatly inju- 
rious to the former, and that incalculable benefits must be de- 
rived from opening to themselves the markets of the world ; 
that to be governed by a nation or sovereign, distant from them 
three thousand miles, unacquainted with and unmindful of their 
interests, would, even if reinstated in their former situation, oc- 
casion infinite injury; and in the present state of America, was 
an evil too great to be voluntarily borne. But victory alone 
could restore them to that situation, and victory would give 
them independence. 

U was also urged, and with great reason, that foreign, aid 



J 34 HISTORY OF THE 

could more certainly be obtained, if the effect of that aid would 
be the dismemberment of the British empire. 

American indejoeiidence became the more general theme of 
conversation ; and more and more the general wish. This 
sentiment was increased, by learning that they were declared to 
be in a state of rebellion ; that foreign mercenaries were to be 
employed against them ; and that the toramahawk and scalping 
knife were to be used. 

The measures of Congress took their complexion from the 
temper of the people. General letters of marque and reprisal 
were granted, and the American ports were opened to all na- 
tions except the British. 

At length a measure was adopted, which was considered by 
Congress, and by America in general, as decisive of the ques- 
tion of independence. Mr. John Adams, since President of 
the United States, Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Richard Henry Lee 
were appointed a committee to prepare a preamble to the reso- 
lution. This was on the fifteenth of May, 1776. The pream- 
ble drawn up by these gentlemen, is in the words following. 
" Whereas his Britannic Majesty, in conjunction with the lords 
and commons of Great Britain, has, by a late act of Parliament, 
excluded the inhabitants of these United Colonies from the pro- 
tection of his crown; and whereas, no answer whatever to the 
Immble petitions of the colonies for the redress of grievances 
and reconciliation of Great Britain, has been, or is likely to 
be given ; but the whole force of that kingdom, aided by for- 
eign mercenaries, is to be exerted for the destruction of the 
good people of these colonies ; and whereas, it appears abso- 
lutely irreconcileable to reason and good conscience, for the 
people of these colonies now to take the oaths and affirmations 
necessary for the support of any government under the crown 
of Great Britain ; and it is necessary that the exercise of 
every kind of authority under the said crown, should be totally 
suppressed ; and all the powers of government exerted under 
the authority of the people of the colonies, for the preservation 
of internal peace, virtue and good order, as well as for the de- 
fence of their lives, liberties and properties, against the hostile 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 135 

invasions and cruel depredations of their enemies ; therefore 
resolved, that it be recommended to the respective assemblies 
and conventions of the United Colonies, where no government 
sufiicient for the exigencies of their aflairs, halh been already 
established, to adopt such government as shall, in the opinion 
of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happi- 
ness and safety of their constituents in particular, and America 
in general." 

The provincial assemblies and conventions acted on this re- 
commendation, and governments were generally established. 

The solid foundations for popular governments were now 
estabUshed. The materials in their possession, as well as their 
habits of thinking, were adapted only to governments in all 
respects representative, and such governmejits were every 
where adopted. In general, the executive, legislative and ju- 
dicial departments were rendered distinct with the intent of 
making them independent of each other in a very considerable 
degree. The legislature was divided into two branches, and all 
persons holding offices of profit or trust excluded from it. 
The executive too was constituted by election, and a strong 
jealousy of its powers was every where manifested. The judges 
received their appointments from the legislature or executive, 
and in most instances held their offices during good behaviour. 

These leading principles formed the common basis of the 
American republics. There were, however, some exceptions 
to them. In some of the states the legislature consisted of a 
single branch. 

Various too were the qualifications required to confer the 
privilege of an elector, or of being elected. In constructing 
the executive too, great varieties appeared. In some instances 
the governor was elected, and was eligible for a longer, and in 
others, for a shorter term — in some states he was invested with 
a negative on the laws, which in others was refused him, and 
with power to make appointments, which more generally was 
exercised by the legislature. In some instances he acted ac- 
cording to his own judgment, and in others, was divested of 



136 HISTORY or TUB 

all responsibility, by being placed under the absolute conlrol or 
an exective council. 

In general, however, the ancient institutions were preserved 
so far as was compatible with the abolition of regal authority. 

The provincial assemblies, under the influence of Congress, 
took up the question of independence; and in some instances 
authorised their representatives in the national council to en- 
ter into alliances. Measures were taken to ascertain the sense 
of ihe people respecting it, which was expressed in instruc- 
tions to their representatives in the state assemblies. 

The public opinion having manifested itself in favour of in- 
dependence, the great and decisive step was determined on, and 
the following resolution was moved by Richard Henry Lee, 
seconded by John Adams, afterwards President of the United 
States : "resolved that these United Colonies are, and of right 
ought to be, free and independent Stales ; and that all political 
connexion between them and the Stale of Great Britain is, and 
ought to be, totally dissolved." 

This resolution was made on the seventh day of June, 1776* 

The resolution was referred to a committee of the whole 
Congress, where it was daily debated. All the States, except 
Pennsylvania and Maryland, had expressed their approbation 
of the measure, and no doubt remained of its adoption ; but it 
was deemed prudent to postpone a decision on it until those 
states should acquiese, so as to render its adoption unanim- 
ous. At length, instructions were received, on the twenty- 
eighth day of June, from the conventions of those states to 
assent. 

The resolution was on the second day of Jul}', unanimously 
agi*eed to, and the declaration, which had been already prepar- 
ed by a committee, was taken into consideration, and after 
some amendments, received the sanction of Congress on the 
fourth of the same month. The committee consisted of Mr. 
John Adams, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Sherman and 
Mr. R. R. Livingston. 

Here follows the declaration. — " When, in the course of hu- 
man events, it begomes necessary for one people to dissolve 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 137 

the political bands which have connected them with another, 
and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and 
equal stations to which the laws of nature, and of nature's God, 
entitle them — a decent respect to the opinions of m;inkiiid, re- 
quires that they should declare the causes which impel them to 
the separation." 

♦« We hold these truths to be self-evidmt : that all men are 
created equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with 
certain unalienable rights ; that among these are life, liberty, 
and the pursuit of liappiness ; that to secure these rights, go- 
vernments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers 
from the consent of the governed ; that whenever any torm of 
government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of 
the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new govern- 
ment, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing 
its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to 
effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dic- 
tate, that governments long established should not be changed 
for light and transient causes ; and accordingly, all experience 
hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while 
evils are sufferable, tlian to right themselves by abolishing the 
forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train 
of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, 
evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it 
is their right, it is their duty to throw off such government, 
and to provide new guards for their future safety. Such has 
been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now 
the necessity which constrains them to alter ther former systems 
of government. The history of the present King of Great 
liritain, is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all 
having in direct object, the establishment of an absolute tyranny 
over these Stales. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a 
candid world. 

" He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and 
necessary for the public good. 

«' He has forbidtlr-ji his governors to pass laws of immediate 
and pressing importance, unless su&pended in their operatioa 
VOL. III. 18 



138 HISTOKY OF THE 

till his assent should be obtained ; and when so suspended, he 
has utterly neglected to attend to theai. He has refused to 
pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of 
people, unless those people would relinquish the right of repre- 
sentation in the legislature ; a right, inestimable to them, and 
formidable to tyrants only. 

" He has called together legislative bodies, at places unusual, 
uncomfortable, and distant from the repository of their public 
records, for the sole purpose of fatigueing them into a compli- 
ance with his measures. 

'' He has dissolved representative houses, repeatedly for op- 
posing, with manly firmness, his invasions of the rights ol the 
people. 

" He has refused, for a long time, after such dissolutions, to 
cause others to be elected ; whereby the legislative powers, in- 
capable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large, 
for their exercise, the state remaining, in the mean time, expos- 
ed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions 

within. 

" He has endeavoured to prevent thp population of these states ; 
for that purpose, obstructing the laws for naturalization of for- 
eigners ; refusing to pass others, to encourage their migration 
hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of 
lands. 

" He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing 
his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers. 

" He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the 
tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their 
salaries. 

" He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither 
swarms of officers, to harrass our people, and eat out their sub- 
sistence. 

" He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies, 
without the consent of our legislatures. 

" He has affected to render the military independent of, and 
superior of the civil power. 

" He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction, 



STATS OF NEW-YOKIi. 139 

ibrpign to our conslitmion, and unacknowledged by our laws ; 
giving his assent to their acts oJ pretended legislation. 

" For quartering large bodies o( troops among us. 

" For protecting tlien) hy a mock uial from puni^hment, for 
any murders which ihey should coaunit on the inhabitants of 
these states. 

" For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world. 

" For imposing taxes on us witnout our consent. 

" For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by 

Jury- 

" For transporting us beyond seas, to be tried for pretended 
ofiences. 

*' J^ or abolishing the free system of English laws, in a neigh- 
bouring province, establis>hing therein an arbitrary govern- 
ment, and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render it at once 
an example, and fit instrument for introducing the same abso- 
lute rule into these colonies. 

" For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable 
laws, and altering fundamentally, the forms of our govern- 
ments. 

"For suspending our legislatures and declaring himself in- 
vested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. 

•' He has abdicated go\ernment here, by declaring us out of 
his protection, and waging war against us. 

" He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our 
towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. 

"He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign mer- 
cinaries, to complete the works of death, desolation and tyran- 
ny, already began, with circumstances of cruelty and pertidy, 
scarcely paralleled in the most baroarous ages, and totally un- 
worthy the head of a civilized nation. 

"He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the 
high seas, to bear arms against their countrymen, to become 
the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall them' 
selves by their liands. 

'* He has excited domestic insurrections among us, and has en- 
deavoured to bring on the luliabitants of our froutiers, the nier- 



140 HISTORY OF THE 

ciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is, an undis- 
tinguislied destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. ^ 

" in every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for 
redress in the most huiijble terms: our repeated petitions have 
been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose cha- 
racter is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, 
is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. 

'• Nor have we bet^n wanting in attentions to our British 
brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts 
by their legislature, to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction 
over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our 
einigration and settlement here. We have appealed to th'ir 
native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them, 
by the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpa- 
ti'.jns, which would inevitably interrupt our connexions and 
corri spondeixe. They too have been deaf to the voice of jus- 
tice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in 
the necessity which denounces our separation, and hold them 
as we hold the rest ol" mankind — enemies in war, in peace 
friends. 

" We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of 
America, in general Congress assembled, appealing to the 
Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, 
do, in the name and by the authority of the good people of 
these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United 
Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent 
states ; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British 
crown, and that all political connexion between them and the 
state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved ; 
and that, as free and independent slates, they have full power 
to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish com- 
merce, and to do all other acts and things which independent 
states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, 
with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, 
we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and 
our sacred lionour." 

kThis declaration was immediately communicated to the ar- 



STATE OF m:w-youk. 141 

mies, where it was received with enthusiasm. It was also pro- 
clyimecl throughout the Uuiled btates^ aud gave to the people 
very general joy. 

The English, on the accession of King William and Queen 
Mary, in 168S, published a paper similar to the preceding de- 
claration, calKd the Bill of Rights. The Dutch had, previous 
to that time, published a manilbsto. Our declaration of inde- 
pendence is similar to that oJ the English, as the latter is of the 
Dutch. The instrument is an admirable paper, and was well 
calculated for the times. 

On evacuating Boston, General Howe had retired to Halifax 
in I\()va Scotia. But it seems that the situation of his arn)y 
was so uncomfortable in that place, and the delays in the arri- 
val of troops and supplies were so great, that he resolved to 
sail to New-York, or some other place in its vicinity, and take 
a position where he might obtain necessaries for his army, until 
those should come from Europe. In pursuance of this resolu- 
tion he left Halifax, and arrived off Sandy Hook, with the first 
division of his fleet. The rear division soon followed, and hav- 
ing passed the Narrows, between Long Island and Staten 
Island, landed the troops on the latter island, where the Ameri- 
cans had at that time but a very small lorce. Here General 
Howe determined to wait till the expected reinforcements from 
England should come. 

From the conduct of Howe it was very evident that his ob- 
ject was to seize the city of New- York. He was invited to da 
this, not only by the facility with which it could be taken and 
retained, but by the superior advantages it offered in the pro- 
secution of the war. He very well knew that if he could take 
New-York, that Long Island would fall into his hands as a 
matter of course. From this place it would be optional with 
him to carry the war Into New England on the one side, and 
into New-Jersey on the other, or if he chose, into the interior 
of the state of New-York. 

On the twelfth of July, Lord Howe, the brother of the Gene- 
ral, arrived with a part of the reinforcements, and landed them. 



142 HISTORY OF THE 

on Staten Island. He was commissioned to treat with the 
Americans respecting ar.^accommodation. 

Notwithstanding the declaration of independence had now 
been made, Lord Howe determined, while the troops were ar- 
riving, to try the influence ol the powers for pacification which 
had been committed to him. He sent on shore, by flag, a cir- 
cular letter, addressed to the late governors under the crown, 
inclosing a declaration, which he requested tliem to make pub- 
lic ; and which announced to the people his authority to grant 
pardons to any number or description of persons, who, during 
the tumults and disasters of t)ie times, might have deviated 
from tlieir just allegiance, and who might be willing, by a 
speed}^^ return to their duty, to ivap the benefits of the royal 
favour ; and to declare any colony, town, port, or place in the 
peace and under the protection of the crown, and excepted 
from the penal provisions of the act of Parliament, prohibiting 
all trade and intercourse with the colonies, &c. 

These papers were transmitted by Washington to Congress, 
who resolved that they should be published in the several ga- 
zettes, that the people of the United States might be informed 
what the nature of the commissions were, and what the terms 
with which the court of Great Britain had sought to amuse and 
disarm them. 

About the same time that these papers were put into circu- 
lation, Lord Howe sent, with a flag, a letter addressed to 
George Washington, Esquire, which he refused to receive, as 
it did not acknowledge the public character with which he was 
invested by Congress, and giving the bearer to understand, that 
in no other character could he have any intercourse with his 
lordship. 

On the twentieth of July, Colonel Patterson, Adjutant-gene- 
ral of the British army, was sent by General Howe, with a let- 
ter directed to George Washington, &c. he. &c., but he still 
declined to receive it, because it was not addressed to him in 
his official capacity. Some conversation then passed relative 
to the treatment of prisoners. The Colonel then opened the 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 143 

business concerning an accommodalion ; but Washington re- 
fused to enter into it, in as much as he had no authority from 
Congress. He, however, in reply to some facts stated by 
Colonel Patterson, said, that so far as he could judge from what 
had as yet transpired, Lord Howe and General Howe were 
only empowered to grant pardons ; that those who had com- 
mitted no fault, wanted no pardon ; and that the Americans 
were only defending their unalienable rights. 

About the first of August, the British army under Howe, 
amounted to twenty-four thousand men, and reinforcements 
were daily coming in. '^' 

The Anerican army, about the same time, rather exceeded 
seventeen thousand men, but of tiiis number nearly four thou- 
sand were unfit for duty. Besides the arms were very defec- 
tive, and the men not well disciplined, being mostly new levies. 
Serious apprehensions were entertained that it would not be 
able to cope with the very superior forces of the enemy. 

Soon after the army was augmented by Smallwood's regi- 
(nent, and by two regiments from Pennsylvania, and by large 
bodies of militia from New England, and the interior of New- 
York, to twenty-seven thousand men. 

A part of this army was stationed on Long Island, under 
Oeneral Sullivan. The residue occupied different stations on 
the island of New-York, except three detachments, one on Go- 
vernors island, one at Powles Hook, in New- Jersey, opposite the 
city of New York, and one under General Clinton on the Sound 
towards New Rochelle, East and West Chester. The latter 
comprised a part of the New-York militia. 

An attack from the enemy was daily expected ; great exer- 
tions were therefore made to meet the enemy. 

As the defence of Long Island was intimately connected 
with that of New-York, a brigade was posted at Brooklyn, 
opposite the city of New-York, and works of defence thrown 
up. 

The movements of the enemy soon indicated an intention to 
make their first attack on Long Island, in consequence of 
whieh, General Sullivan was reinforced. Early in the mom- 



144 HISTORY OF THE 

ing of the twenty-second of August, the greater part of the 
British army, witli Colonel Donop's corps of chasseurs and 
Hessian grenadiers, with forty pieces of cannon, landed without 
opposition under cover of the guns of the lleet, near Utrecht 
and Gravesend, not far from the Narrows, dividing Staten and 
Long Islands. They were commanded by Lieutenant-general 
Clinton. Colonel Hand, who guarded the coast, retired to the 
woody heights, commanding a pass leading to the works at 
Brooklyn. Lord Cornvvallis was detached to seize the pass. 

Major-general Putnam was now directed to take command 
at Brooklyn, and passed over with six regiments. On the 
same day, Lieutenant-general do Heister landed with two bri- 
gades of Hessians. The next day he took post at Flaibush, 
and Lord Cornwallis, who had occupied this place, marched 
to Flatland. 

The Hessians under General de Heister composed the cen- 
Ire ; General Grant commanded the left wing, and General 
Clinton the right. The hostile armies were only separated by 
a range of hills. The centre of the enemy was not four miles 
from the lines at Brooklyn, while their right and left wings 
were not over five or six miles. Colonel Lutz, of the Pennsyl- 
vania militia, commanded on the coast road, and Colonel Wil- 
liams, from New England, on the road leading from Flatbush 
to Bedford. 

About nine o'clock at night of the twenty-sixth of August, 
General Clinton silently drew off the van of the British army, 
and marching through the country, seized a pass in the range 
of hills before mentioned, about three miles east of Bedford. 
This pass was unguarded, and it seems that he reached it with- 
out being discovered. They were immediately followed by a 
strong column under Lord Percy, who reached the same place 
on the morning ofthe twenty-seventh. Very early in the same 
morning, General Grant put the left wing in motion, and ad- 
vanced along the coast. 

Brigadier-general Lord Sterling was directed by General 
Putnam to march with two regiments, and meet the enemy 
on the road leading from the Narrows, trtneral Sullivan pro- 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 145 

reeded with a larg;e body of men on ihc rond leadinj:^ lo Flat- 
busli, u'iiile aiuiilier body occupied the lieights between Flat- 
bush and Bedford. 

JVbout l)r£Mk of day Lord Sterling reached the summit of 
the h:lls, where he was joined by the troops which had already 
been engaged, and were retiring before the enemy. Here be 
endeavoured to make a stand. The enemy began a cannonade, 
which the .Americans returned. This was kept up for some 
hours. The object of Grant seems, however, to have been 
merely to amuse tliem till CliiUon should execute that part_of 
the plan entrusted to him. 

Soon after day light, General de Heister commenced a can- 
nonade on the troops under General Sullivan ; but did not 
move from bis ground at Flatbush, until the right wing of the 
British army had approached the left and rear of the Americans, 
About half after eight the British right having reached Bed- 
ford in the rear of Sullivan's left, General de Heisier ordered 
Colonel Donop's corps to advance to the attack, while he fol- 
lowed with the centre. The approach of Clinton was now dis- 
covered by the American left, which immediately endeavoured 
to regain the camp at Brooklyn ; but was met by the British, 
where a severe conflict ensued, in which the former were defeat- 
ed and driven back into the woods. In the mean time, Sullivan 
was obliged to fall bark. The Americans were thus attacked 
in front and rear. A succession of skirmishes took place in 
the woods, in the course of which, considerable portions of the 
Americans forced their way through the enemy's ranks, and 
regained their camp at Brooklyn. 

The loss of the Americans in this unfortunate action, includ- 
ing prisoners, exceeded three thousand men. Major-general 
Sullivan, and Brigadiers Lord Sterling and Woodhull, were 
made prisoners. The enemy admitted a loss of twenty-one 
officers, and three hundred and forty-six privates, but it was 
probably much greater. 

The enemy, believing the Americans to be much stronger 
than they were in reality, made no immediate attempt upon their 
lines at Brooklyn. They encamped in front of them, and on 

VOL, II h 19 



146 llISTOliY OF THE 

the twenty-eiglnh, at night, commenced throwing up works. 
The situation of the American army on Long Island, had now 
become extremely critical. Washington, therefore, detcrnfmed 
to withdraw it, before the enemy should surround it. In pur- 
suance of this determination, he caused the troops to quit their 
works on the night of the twenty-eighth and the morning of the 
twenty-ninth, and brought them on to the continent. This was 
done wiih so much secrecy, that the enemy had no intimation 
before daylight, when they discovered the rear guard in boats. 

Washington has been censured by some, for attempting to 
defend Long Island ; but those persons did not consider, that 
the city of New- York could not have resisted an hour, had the 
heights at Brooklyn been left undefended. New- York, at 
present could not hold out one day, were an enemy possessed 
of them. If, therefore, any error was committed, it was by 
those who advised him to defend the city. 

The first use made by Lord Howe, of the victory of the 
twenty-seventh of August, was to avail himself of the impression 
it had probably made on Congress, by opening a negociation. 
For this purpose, General Sullivan was sent on parol to Phila- 
delphia, with a verbal message, the import of which was, that 
though he could not at present treat with Congress as a poli- 
tical body ; yet he was very desirous of having a conference 
with some of their body, whom he would meet at any place 
they would appoint. That he, in conjunction with General 
Howe, had full powers to compromise the disputes between 
Great Britain and America, on terms advantageous to both. 
That he wished a contract might be settled at this time, when 
no decisive blow was struck, and neither party could allege 
being compelled to enter into it. 

The answer given to Lord Howe, through General Sullivan, 
was, " that Congress being the representatives of the free and 
independent States of America, cannot, with propriety, send any 
of its members to confer with his lordship in their private 
characters ; but that they being desirous of establishing a peace 
on reasonable terms, would send a committee to learn whether 
he bad authority to treat or not." 



STATK OF NEW-VOUK. 147 

Mr. John Adams, Mr. Edward Rutledge and Dr. Franklin 
were appointed to receive the communications of Lord Howe. 
Tliey waited on his lordship, and on their return, reported 
that he had received liiem on the eleventh of Stpteniber, on 
Staten Island, with great politeness. 

He opened the conversation by stating to them, that though 
he could not treat with them as a committee of Congress, yet 
as his powers enabled him to confer and consult with any pri- 
vate gentleman on the means of restoring peace, he was glad 
of this opportunity, and that if they thought themselves at lib- 
erty to enter into a conference he was ready. They observed 
to his lordship, that he might consider them in what light he 
pleased, and communicate any propositions he chose ; but 
that they could consider themselves in no other character, 
than that in which they were placed. That his lordship then 
entered into a discourse, which contained explicit propositions 
of peace, except one; and that was, that the colonies should 
return to their allegiance and obedience to Great Britain. 
That they had signified to his lordship, that a return to the 
domination of Great Britain was not now to be expected. 

These fruitless negociations produced no suspension of hos- 
tilities. The day after the Americans left Long Island, Gov- 
ernor's Island was also evacuated. 

The British army on Long Island was posted at Bedford, 
Bushwick, Newtown, Flushing and Hell-gate, comprehending 
an extent of nine miles. The two armies were divided by East 
River, which is from twelve to eighteen hundred yards broad, 
and on both sides of which batteries were erected, which kept 
up an incessant fire. 

Immediately after the battle of Brooklyn, the enemy made 
dispositions to attack the city of New- York. A part of the 
fleet sailed round Lmig Island, and appeared in the Sound 
near Hell-gate. Two frigates passed between Governor's Isl- 
and and Bed Hook, up East River, and took shelter behind a 
small island from the American artillery ; while the Admiral, 
with the main body of the fleet, lay at anchor close in with 



148 HisToiiV (jv ruE ■ 

Governor's Island, ready to pass up either East River or Hud- 
son's River, or both, as occasion iniglit require. 

These movements indicated llsat the object of" the enemy was 
not an immediate attack upon the city, but to land in West 
Chester, near Kii>ghbridge, and take a position which would 
enable them to cut oli' the commanication of the American 
army with the continent, asul thereby compel it to surrender. 

Washington, in order to guard against this, divided his armN' 
into tbree divisions, the first, consisting of five thousand men, 
he stationed at the city of New-York ; the second, consisting of 
nine thousand men, he .stationed at Kingsbridge ; while the 
third he disposed along the intermediate space, in such a man- 
ner that it could afford assistance to either or both of the others. 
Soon after this disposition of the army, the enemy began to 
make arrangements, as if to land at xMontresor's island or Mor- 
risania. The next morning, a part of their army, amounting 
to four thousand men, under General Clinton, landed at Kipp's 
Bay, about three miles above the city of New-York. The 
troops stationed here, although sheltered by works thrown up, 
fled with precipitation. Washington ordered the brigades of 
Generals Parsons and Fellows to march lo their support, but 
the panic which had struck the fugitives, seized these brigades, 
and they also retreated. His only alternative now was to with- 
draw the few troops remaining in the city, which he did with 

very little loss. 

Stpember 15, 17TG. — The enemy being now in possession 
of the city of New-York, stationed some troops in it, and took 
post with the main body of their army, near the American lines. 
Their right was at Horn's Hook, on the East River, and their 
left at Hudson's River, near Bloomingdale, while their centre 
occupied tlie middle of the island, which hereabouts is two 
miles broad. At this time the enemy may be said to have pos- 
sessed the southern part of the island, and the Americans the 
northern. The position of the latter was strong, and favoura- 
ble for a retreat, in case of any disaster or ulterior movement of 
the enemy rendering such a step necessary. 

The day alter the retreat from New-York, a detachment 



STATE OF NEW-YORK- 149 

•frosn the Briti5,h army made a movement, and alta<ked a party 
ol Ameiicaiis: a smart skumisli ensued, in which the enemy 
were compelled to retreat, with considerable loss. In this aflair 
Colonel Knowlton and Major Leitch fell, on the side ol' the 
Americans. 

The armies did not long retain their positions on the island 
of New-York. General Howe, being sensible of the strength 
of the American camp, and remembering Bunker's Hill, had 
no inclination to force it. His plan was to compel Washington, 
either to abandon it or to fight him, in a situation in which a 
defeat must be attended with the destruction of his army. With 
this view he determined, after throwing up intrenchments on 
]M'Gowan's hill, for the protection of New York, to gain the 
rear of the American army, by the road leading to New Eng- 
land, along which their principal supplies came ; and also to 
possess himself of Hudson's River, above Kingsbridge. He, 
therefore, dispatched three frigates up the latter river, and then 
embarked a great part of his army on board of boats, and pro- 
ceeding up East River into the Sound, landed at Frog's Neck, 
^bout nine miles from Harlaem heights. Frog's Neck is com- 
pletely surrounded by the water, which, at flood tide, is unford- 
able ; so that it is, in fact, an island, communicating with the 
continent by bridges. These bridges were broken down by 
the Americans, and works were immediately thrown up to ob- 
struct the enemy's march into the country. Washington moved 
part of his forces from New-lork island to Kingsbridge, while 
he sent others to oppose the enemy so soon as they should ad- 
vance from Frog's Neck. The country being intersected in 
every direction by stone fences, was well adapted for skirmish- 
ing and impeding the enemy's progress. 

General Howe continued some days, quietly waiting for his 
artillery and reinforcements from Staten Island, which were de- 
tained by the winds. 

On the sixteenth of October, Washington changed the posi- 
tion of his army, by extending his left up Hudson's River, to- 
wards White Plains, and beyond the enemy's right. He was 



150 HISTORY OF THE 

induced to this in order to keep up a communication with the 
country, and to prevent being inclosed by the enemy. 

In the mean time, the artillery and reinforcements having ar- 
rived. General Howe decamped, and marched through Pelham's 
manor towards New Kochelle. Several skirmishes were fought 
on this march, in which the Americans evinced great gallantry. 
New Rochelle is on the Sound. Washington now occupied the 
heights between that place and the Hudson. At this place, 
Howe was joined by General Knyphausen and his Germans, 
and some cavalry from Ireland. 

Both armies now moved towards the White Plains, a strong 
piece of ground, where a large camp had been marked out, and 
was already occupied by a detachment of militia. The main 
body of the American army formed a line of intrenched camps, 
extending twelve or thirteen miles on the difl'erent heights, com- 
mencing at Valentine's Hill, near Kingsbridge, and ending at 
White Plains. This line of intrenched camps fronted the little 
river Bronx, and the British line of march. These camps were 
so situated, that the whole army could be assembled at any one 
point in a short time, should circumstances require. 

While the enemy lay at New Rochelle, Major Green was de- 
tached by night with a corps to surprise a British regiment, 
under Major Rogers, at Mamaroneck. This he" executed, 
killing and taking about sixty men. Soon after Colonel Hand 
fell in with and defeated a regiment of Hessian chasseurs. 

Washington was now encamped on the high and broken 
grounds, with his right flank covered by the Bronx, which 
meanders so that it also covered the front of his right wing, 
which extended along the road leading down on the east side of 
that river towards New Rochelle, as far as the brow of the hill, 
where his centre was posted. His left, which formed almost a 
right angle with his centre, and was nearly parallel to his right, 
extended along the hills northwardly, so as to retain possession 
of the commanding ground, and secure a retreat, should it be 
necessary. 

On the right of the army, and on the west side of the Bronx., 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 151 

about one mile from the camp, on the road leading from the 
Hudson, was a hill occupied by General M'Dougal, with six- 
teen hundred men, mostly militia. 

The enemy, who had advanced from New Rochelle and Ma- 
maroneck, and were within seven or eight miles of White Plains, 
now made arrangements to attack the American army in its 
cauip. Early in the morning, they advanced in two columns, 
the right was commanded by General Clinton, and the left by 
General Knyphausen, accompanied by General Howe in person. 
The patroles fell back, and their van appeared about ten o'clock 
in full view of the American lines. A cannonade was com- 
menced, without doing much execution on either side. 

The right of the enemy was formed behind a rising ground, 
about a mile in front of the camp, and stretched from the road 
leading from Mamaroneck towards the Bronx, so that it was 
opposed to the centre of the American army. 

On viewing the situation of the American army, General 
Howe determined to possess himself of the hill occupied by the 
detachment under General M'Dougal, which he deemed as im- 
portant to the success of an attack on its centre and right. He, 
therefore, ordered Colonel Rawle, with his brigade of Hessians, 
to cross the Bronx, and make a circuit, so as to gain a position, 
from which he might annoy the right flank of M'Dougal's de- 
tachment, while Brigadier-general Leslie, with the second bri- 
gade of British troops, and the Hessians, under Colonel Donop, 
should attack him in front. When Colonel Rawle had gained 
the position he had been ordered to take, Leslie and Donop 
crossed the Bronx, and commenced an attack on the front. 
The militia fled, but the New-York continentals, under Colonel 
Reitzimar, and the Marylanders, under Colonel Smallwood, 
advanced to meet them, and engaged them with great intre- 
pidity ; being, however, overpowered by numbers, they had 
soon to retreat. The enemy advanced with great resolution, 
and after some hard fighting, possessed himself of the hill. 
General Putnam, who had been ordered up with General Beal's 
brigade, did not arrive in time to aflford support. 

In this affair the loss on both sides was supposed to be nearly 



ISa inSTUKY OF THE 

tqual. That of the Americans was between three and lour 
hundred. 

Washington remained in his lines, expecting every mn» 
ment an attack, but as a considerable part of tlift day had b< en 
spent in taking possession of the hill occupied by M'Dougal, 
all attempts on his intrenchmenls were deferred until the next 
day. During the night he strengtiiened his works, and caused 
the sick and the baggage to be removed. He shifted his right 
wing by drawing it back to stronger ground. 

In the mean time, General Howe remained inactive until the 
thirty-first day of October, about which period he received a 
considerable reinforcement, commanded by Lord Percy, when 
he made dispositions for attacking ihe whole of the American 
army in its trenches. 

Washington changed his position in the night, and fell back 
about five miles, where he took a new position on the heights 
of North Castle. At the same time he sent General Beal with 
his brigade to take possession of the bridge on Croton river, 
which lay a fnw miles in his rear. This position was so strong 
that General Howe did not consider it prudent to make any 
attempt upon it. He, therefore, changed his operations, and re- 
solved upon the reduction of Fort Washington, on the island 
of New-York, and Fort Lee, on the west side of Hudson's 
river. These posts, it will be seen, checked very essentially 
his movements. With a view of putting his resolution into 
effect, he directed General Knyphausen to cross the country 
from New Rochelle, and take possession of Kingsbndge, 
where some Americans were stationed in Fort Independence. 
On his approach, the Americans retired to Fort Washington, 
and Knyphausen crossed over on to the island of New-York, 
and encamped to the north of the fort. 

Meanwhile General Howe decamped and marched to Dobb's 
Ferry, from whence he retired slowly down the Hudson to- 
wards Kingsbridge. 

About this time, Washington directed that three thousand 
men should be stationed at Peekskill. and in the pnsses of the 
Highlands, in order that a communication might be kept up 
between the Eastern and Middle States. 



STATE OF NRVV-YOKK. 153 

General Greene, who commanded in New-Jersey, on recelv-; 
ing intelligence of Howe's movements, directed his attention to 
the preservation of Fort Washington. He caused most of the 
stores, belonging to the army in this quarter, to be removed 
into the interior, so that they might not fall into the enen j's 
hands, in case he should succeed in his designs on Forts W ash- 
ington and Lee. 

Measures were now taken to cross Hudson's River, with the 
troops which had been raised on its western side, while those 
levied on its eastern side remained where they then wtre, un- 
der General Lee. Washington accompanied those who pass- 
ed the river. General Lee, pursuant to the plan concerted, 
fell back behind Croton River, and took post on the command- 
ing grounds at Pinesbridge. 

Wa'^hington having vi^^ited the posts about Peekskill, and 
given the necessary directions lor their delence, joined General 
Greene near Fort Lee. 

Fort Washington was commanded by Colonel Magavv. 

About the twelfth of November, General Howe encamped 
near Kingsbridge, on the heights of Fordliam, with his right 
towards the north, and his left on the Bronx. Dispositions 
were immediately made for the reduction ot Fort Washington, 
On the thirteenth, Colonel Magaw was summoned to surrender, 
on pain of the garrison being put to the sword, but he refused, 
replying, that he should defend the place to the last. 

General Howe, on receiving this answer, determined to car- 
ry it by storm. On the sixteenth, at abuut ten o'clock, the 
enemy appeared, and moved on to the assault, in four separate 
divisions. Then* first division consisting of five thousand men, 
composed of Hessians and Waldeckers, commanded b} General 
Knyphausen, advanced on the north side of the works, wh' re 
they were received by the troops under Colonel Rawlings. — 
The second, on the east, was led by General Matthews, sup- 
ported by Lord Cornwallis, who commanded a corps of reserve. 
The third was conducted by ColmTel Stirling, and the fourth 
by Lord Percy, accompanied by General Howe, in person. 

The attacks on the north and south, by Knyphausen, and 

VOL. IH. 20 



1 



154 HISTORY OF THE 

• 

Lord Percy, were made about the same instant on the quarters J 

commanded by Colonels Rawlings and Cadwallader. The ■ 

enemy carried the latter, after an- obstinate resistance, but at 
the former, he was repulsed several times, with great loss — at 
length, however, he succeeded, and Colonel Kawlings retired 
in 10 the fort. 

General Howe having carried the lines of the fort, and being 
pos^essed of tlie adjoining grounds, which gave him the com- 
mand of the works, again summoned Colonel Magaw to surren- 
der. While the capitulation was going on, Washington sent 
Colonel Magaw a billet, requesting him to hold out until the 
evf ning, when he would endeavour to bring off the garrison — 
but that officer had proceeded too far to retract^ and it is pro- 
bable that the place could not have resisted an assault. Under 
these circumstances, the garrison, amounting to nearly three 
thousand mei>, surrendered prisoners of war. The loss of the 
enemy, in carrying the lines, amounted to two thousand men, 
and fell mostly on the Hessians and Waldeckers. 

The surrender of Fort Washington was followed by an im- 
mediate evacuation of Fort Lee, and a removal of the stores 
into the interior of New-Jersey. 

On the eighteenth of November, Lord Cornwallls, with six 
thousand men, crossed the Hudson below Dobbs' Ferry, and 
landed in New-Jersey. 

Washington retired, and took post on the west side of Hack- 
ensark river, but he soon found that it would be impossible to 
dispute its passage, before such superior forces. He, however, 
made exertions to impede the advance of the enemy. In the 
mean time, he sent directions to General Schuyler, who com- 
manded in the north, to send to his aid the troops of Pennsylva- 
nia and New-Jersey — he also «Gnt directions to General Lee to 
cross the Hudson, and hold himsel m readiness to join him, 
should the enemy continue the campaign. He ordered General 
Mercer, who commanded a part of the flying camp, stationed 
about Byrgen, to come in. The American army, at this time, 
was diminishing very rapidly, in consequence ol the expiration 



&iATE OF NEW-YORK.. 155 

lor (he time for which tlie men had enlisted, and no hope re- 
mained ot iheir enlisting again. 

November the twenty- first, Washington, with Beals', 
Beards', and part of Irvings' brigades, fell bthind Passaic 
river, and established his hewd-quarters at Newark. Soon 
after, General Vanghan appeared with a nnmerous detachment, 
before ihe new bridge over Hackensack, and forced the Ameri- 
cans, who had remained there for its defejice, to retire. The 
bridge, however, was broken down. About the same time. 
General Miftlin was dispatched to Pennsylvania, to endeavour 
to call the militia out. Colonel Reid was sent to the governor of 
New-Jersey, to press upon him the necessity of making imme- 
diate exertions to prevent the whole slate from being overrun. 

Being unable to make head against the enemy, who were 
now gathering in great force along the Passaic, Washington 
decamped, and retired to Brunswick, a village on the west side 
of Hariton River. Here considerable numbers of his troops 
left him, being entitled to their discharge. Many of the militia 
from Pennsylvania deserted, and returned home. The Ameri- , 
can army at this time was reduced to about four thousand men, 
and these were badly armed, fed, and clothed, and almost with- 
out tents. Every thing seemed to announce a speedy termina- 
tion of the war. Uhe governor of New-Jersey was unable to 
furnish the aids required ; disaffection began to manifest itself; 
those who had been ardent supporters of American rights, be- 
gan to show a coolness and indifference to the further prosecu- 
tion of the war. 

The enemy still continuing to advance, and Washington, 
deeming it not safe to remain any longer at Brunswick, broke 
up his camp, and retired first to Princeton and then to Tren- 
ton, on Delaware river. At Princeton he left Lord Stirling, 
with about twelve hundred men, who was to watch the move- 
ments of the enemy. 

The army at Trenton did. not exceed three thousand men. 
During these retrograde movements, the only cavalry belong- 
ing to the army was a corps of badly mounted Connecticut 



156 HISTORY OF THL 

militia, under Major Sheldon. These, however, rendered very 
essemial aids. 

In this crisis of American affairs, a proclamation was issued by 
Lord Howe and General Howe, commanding all persons as- 
sembled in ar.us against his Majesty's government, to disband 
and return to their homes ; and ail civil officers to desist from 
their treasonable practices, and relinquish their usurped authori- 
ty. A full pardon was also ofi'ered to every person, who would 
■within sixty da^s, appear before certain civil or military 
oiiicers of the crown, and claim the benefit of that proclama- 
tion ; and, at the same time, testify his obedience to the laws, 
by subscribing a declaration of his submission to the royal au- 
thority. Copies of this proclamation were dispersed through- 
out the country ; after which numbers Hocked in daily, for the 
purpose of making their peace, and obtaining protection. 
The contrast between the splendid appearance of the advancing 
army, and that made by tlie retiring army, covered with rags, 
and destitute of" almost every necessary, contributed in no small 
degree to the opinion; that the contest was drawing near to 
a close. 

Undismayed by the dangers which surrounded him, Wash- 
ington did not relax his exertions, nor did he despair of the 
public safety. He caused the baggage and stores of the army 
to be removed to the right bank of the Delaware, and the sick 
to be sent to Philadelphia. Finding that Lord Cornwallis 
still continued at Brunswick, he, on the fifth of December, de- 
tached twelve hundred men to Princeton, to reinforce Lord 
Stirling, in the hope, that by appearing to advance upon the ene- 
mv, he rtiight not only delay his progress, but in some measure 
cover the country, and reanimate the dispirited. About the 
same time, fifteen hundred Philadelphians volunteered in de- 
fence of their country, and proceeded to Trenton. Congress 
ordered a battalion of Germans, lately levied, to proceed to the 
same place. On receiving the reinforcements, amounting to 
two thousand men, Washington set out to return to Princeton, 
but before reaching that place, he learned that Lord Cornwallis 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 15? 

•was tiKU'cliiiig by difierent routes, so as to get in his rear ; he 
was therefore obliged to fall back to the Delaware, which river 
he crossed on the eighth, and took post on its right bank. 

The enemy reached Trenton almost as soon as liie Ameri- 
cans had left it. They made some attempts to cross the river, 
but were prevented mostly Irom a want of boats. 

While on his march through New-Jersey, General Lee very 
indiscreetly quartered under a slight guard, in a house about 
three miles from his army. Information being given to Colo- 
nel Harcourt, at that time detached with a body of cavalry for. 
the purpose of gainnig intelligence of his movements, he im- 
mediately formed the design of seizing him. By a rapid march, 
this officer, at the head of his cavalry, reached the house where 
the general was, very early in the morning, and took him pri- 
soner, and bore him away to the British army, where he was 
for some time treated as a deserter. 

This was considered a serious loss, and for a lime made 
a very serious impression on the public. General Lee was a 
man of talents, had considerable experience in military matters, 
and was very popular, owing in some measure to his success at 
Charleston in South Carolina. 

General Sullivan, on whom the command of that division of 
the army devolved, after the capture of General Lee, marched 
directly to Phillipsburgh, and after crossing the Delaware, soon 
joined Washington. By the junction of these lorces, on the 
twentieth of December, the American army amounted to seven 
thousand eflective men. On the same day General Gates ar- 
rived, with a pait of the northern army. 

Lord Cornwatlis, having been unable Jo procure boats for 
the transportation of his army over the Delaware, appeared to 
have determined to close the campaign, and retire into winter 
quarters. He cantoned four thousand of his men on the left 
bank of the Delaware, at Trenton, Bordentown, the White 
Horse, and Burlington, while the residue of his army he distri- 
buted from that river to the Hackensack. He stationed detach- 
ments at Princeton, Brunswick, and Elizabethtown. 

The object of General Howe, in having his army distributed 



J 58 lllSTORY OF THE 

over so large an extent of country, seems to have beefi to inti- 
midate the inhabitants, and impede the recruiting service. To 
counteract his object in tliese respects, Washington ordered 
three regiments, who were marching from Peekskill, in the slate 
of New- York, to join him, to halt at Morristown in ^lew- Jer- 
sey, and unite with eight hundred militia, who had assembled at 
that place, under Colonel Ford. He sent General Maxwell to 
take the command of these forces, and gave him orders t© 
watch the enemy, and harass him whenever he could, and to 
give intelligence of his movements. 

The present aspect of the American affairs was very gloomy. 
The army, except a few regiments from New-York, Pennsyl- 
vania, Maryland, and V irginia, affording an effective force of 
about fifteen hundred men, would dissolve in a few days. New- 
Jersey was mostly overrun, and occupied by the enemy. The 
militia ol Pennsylvania had not turned out with cheerfulness a& 
had been expected. 

Moved by divers considerations, Washington, on seeing the 
dispersed situation of the British army, formed the daring plan 
of attacking all their posts on the left bank of the Delaware at 
the same time. 

Most of his continentals were posted above Trenton, from 
Yardly's up to Coryell's ferry. General Irvine, with a detach- 
ment of militia, occupied the space from Y ardly's to a ferry op- 
posite Bordentown, and General Cadwallader, with a body of 
Pennsylvania militia, was encamped still lower down the 

river. 

The plan was to cross the Delaware in the night, at M'Kon- 
key's ferry, about nine miles above Trenton — march down in 
two divisions, the one taking the river road and the other the 
Pennington road, both of which led into the town, the one 
at the west end and the other towards the north. This part 
of the plan was to be executed by Washington in person, at 
the head of two thousand four hundred continentals. General 
Irvine was to cross at the Trenton ferry, and secure the bridge 
at the lower end of the town, so as to prevent the escape of 
any part of the enemy on that side. General Cadwalladef 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 15^ 

was to cross over at Bristol, and carry the post at Burlington. 
The nighi of hecember twenty-fifth was chosen for putting 
the plan into operation. The cold was so severe, and the loose 
ice descended in such abundance, that the troops were not 
transported, and the line of march taken up before four o'clock 
in the morning. As the distance to Trenton, both by the river 
and the Pennington road, is nearly the same, it was supposed 
that each divison would reach its place of destination about 
the same time, and, therefore, orders were given to attack at 
the first moment of arrival. 

Washington accompanied the division which took the upper 
road, and reached the out-post precisely at eight o'clock in 
the morning. He immediately drove it in, and in three mi- 
nutes the fire from the division, which had taken the lower 
road, was heard. The Americans advanced with so much ra- 
pidity that the enemy could not stand. Colonel Rawle, a very 
gallant officer, who commanded in Trenton, paraded his men, 
in order to oppose the Americans In the very commencement 
of the action he was mortally wounded, and his troops in appar- 
ent confusion, attempted to file off from the right, and gain 
the Princeton road Perceiving this, Washington threw a de- 
tachment in their front, which intercepted them. Finding 
themselves surrounded, they laid down their arms and sur- 
rendered. 

Unfortunately the ice had prevented General Irvine from 
executing that part of the plan assigned to him. A part of the 
enemy, about five hundred men, stationed in the lower end of 
the town, escaped to Bordentown. The same cause prevented 
General Cadwallader from attacking the post at Burlington. 
With much difficulty he had got over a part of his infantry, and 
he even returned with these. 

Though the plan was only executed in part, it was attended 
with the happiest consequences. One thousand of the enemy 
were made prisoners, one thousand stand of arms, and six field 
pieces, were taken. The loss of the enemy did not exceed 
twenty, while that of the Americans consisted of two privates 
killed, and two frozen to deatlv 



160^ HISTORY OF THE 

Washington immediately repassed the Delaware with his 
prisoners, and resumed his former position. Nothing could 
surpass the astonishment of the enemy at this unexpected at- 
tack. 

Lord Cornwallis, who had gone to the city of New-York, 
which was then the head-quarters of the British army in Amer- 
ica, returned to New-Jersey with large reinforcements, for the 
purpose of regaining the ground he had lost. 

Meanwhile, Count Donop, who had commanded the troops 
below Trenton, on hearing of the disaster that had befallen 
Colonel Rawle, retreated to Princeton, and joined General 
Leslie. 

The next day General Cadwallader effected a passage ovei' 
the Delaware. About the same time, General Mifflin joined 
General Irvine with fifteen hundred militia. These forces also 
passed over the Delaware into New-Jersey. 

General Heath, who was stationed at Peekskill, on the Hud- 
son, was ordered to march with the main body of the New 
England militia into New-Jersey, and approach the enemy's 
cantonements on that side. General Maxwell was directed to 
harass them. On the thirtieth, Washington recrossed again in- 
to New-Jersey, and took post at Trenton, 

January 1, 1777. — The enemy were now collected in force 
at Princeton, under Lord Cornwallis. Generals Mifflin and 
Cadwallader arriving with three thousand six hundred militia, 
the whole American army now amounted to five thousand 
men. 

On the second, the enemy advanced upon them, when some 
skirmishes ensued. Washington finding it unsafe to risk an 
action with forces so superior, retired across the Assumpinck 
creek, which runs through the town, behind which he drew up 
his army. The enemy, as all the passes across the creek were 
guarded, and as the day was far spent, halted and encamped for 
the night. Fires were kindled by both armies. 

The situation of the American army was again extremely 
critical ; the passage of the Delaware could not be easil^v' effect- 
ed, in consequence of the floating ice j a total deieat would 



STATE OF NEW-YOUK. 161 

tviflently follow, should lie continue where he theVi was ; he 
therefore adopted the plan of marchinp; by a circuitous route, 
along the left flank of the enemVi into their rear at Princeton, 
where he judged they could not be very strong. A council of 
war being called, and the plan approved of, preparations were 
instantly made to carry it into execution. The baggage, as 
soon as it was dark, was sent to Burlington ; and about one 
o'clock, after renewing their fires, and leaving their guards at all 
the passes, the army decamped and proceeded through Aliens- 
town to Princeton. About sun rise they fell in with two regi- 
ments of the enemy, who were on their march to join Lord 
Cornwallis, when a very severe conflict ensued, in which the 
Americans prevailed. One regiment of the enemy forced its 
way through, and continued its march, the other retreated to 
Brunswick. In this afi'air General Mercer was killed, and 
nearly one hundred men ; the enemy had about one hundred 
slain, and nearly three hundred were made prisoners. Colo- 
nels Haslett and Potter, and Captains Neal and Fleming, and 
five other ofiicers, were also killed on the American side. 

On the appearance of daylight, Lord Cornwallis, on discov- 
ering that the American army had decamped, broke up his 
camp, and returned with all possible dispatch to Princeton. 
Washington, after seizing the enemy's stores at Princeton, 
retired to Pluckemin, where he halted for some days. Lord 
Cornwallis continued his retreat to Brunswick. 

The suiTerings of the American army had been so great, 
from the severity of the season, and the want of necessary cloth- 
ing, and the very active service in which they had been engag- 
ed, that Washington deemed it proper to retire to Morristown, 
and put his men into winter quarters. 

The bold and well executed attacks made on the enemy at 
Trenton and Princeton, had great influence, and may be said 
to have changed the fate of the war. 

Philadelphia was saved, New-Jersey was recovered, and pub- 
lic spirit roused. The recruiting service became more active, 
and an army was soon formed, which; although not able in all 

VOL. III. 21 



( 

*J62 HISTORY OF THE 



cases to cope with the enemy's superior forces, kept tliem a£ 
bay, J»nJ prevented them frotn overrunning the country. 

We have already remarked, that the American army under 
General Snlhvan, after being driven out of Canada, took post at 
Crown Point, where General Gates assumed the command The 
war in the north had changed its oi>ject and character. Instead 
of conquest, it became necessary to defend the country. The 
possession of Lakes Champlain and George by the enemy, which 
might lead to the acquisition of Albany, and all the upper paris^ 
of the Hudson and its branches, thereby opening a fiee commu- 
nication between the nortlien {British army, and that in New- 
York, and enabling them to co-operate with each other, while 
it would, in a great measure, sever and disconnect the eastern 
and middle states, was as much to be deprecated on the one 
side, as it was wished on the other. 

The command of this department had been intrusted to 
General Scliuyler. a man of talents, who' possessed great influ- 
ence in the country. General Gates had been named to the 
command '^ti the army of Canada, and after having reached 
Ticonderoga, he ^till claimed the command of the army, though 
ii was no longer in Canada, and was in the department of 
General Scluiyler, a senior officer, who had rendered very emi- 
nent services in that station, and who, if placed under Gen- 
eral Gates, must have felt it impossible to continue in the army. 
On the representation of this circumstance to Congress, it was 
declared not to be their intention to place Gates over Schuyler, 
and it whs recom uended to these officers, to endeavour to co- 
operate harnionionsly. 

Considerable fears were entertained of their ability, with the 
forces under their command, to maintain their ground against 
the enemy, flushed with victory. Fortunately the command of 
Like Champlain was still in the hands of the Americans. 
Aware that the enemy were about constructing a fleet at St. 
Johns ; in order to obtain the mastery, it was determined to 
augment the American naval force, in order to maintain the 
ascendciicv. 



STATL OF i\E\V-V01;K. 163 

GtMieral Scl.in ler jjsed all the ine;iiis in Iiis power to accom- 
plish this object, 'kit he fouiul it impossible to obtain, in suffi- 
cient qu.intitit's, equal to his wishes, either Ciinnon, the necessary 
niateriais lor ships, or workmen to build theui. Jn consequence 
ol'tiiese diilkuhics, the fieet which the Americans equipped un- 
der his superintcndance, amounted to only ilAeen small vessels, 
the largest oi' which carried only twelve giujs, of six and four 
pounds each. 

General Arnold was appointed to command this little fleet. 
lie sailed towards the north end of the lake, to watch the move- 
ments of the enemy. 

Tlie small-pox made great ravages in the army about this 
time. In July, the Generals Schuyler and Gates evacuated 
Crown Point, and concentrated their forces at Ticonderoga. 
This measure had, in some degree, beconae necessary, although 
it was in genoral conden ncd by those at a distance. 

With almost incredible exertions. General Carleton construct- 
ed a powerful fleet, the materials for which he caused to be 
transported some distance over land. His soldiers dragged up 
the rapids of St. Therese and St. Johns, thirty long boats, a 
nuudjur of large flat boats, a gondola, weighing thirty tons, 
with upwards of four hundred batteaux. These immense works 
were completed in little more than three months, and Arnold 
beheld on the lakes, in the beginning of October, a fleet, con- 
sisting of the ship Inflexible, carrying eighteen twelve-poun- 
ders; one schooner, mounting fourteen, and another twelve 
six-pounders ; a flat bottomed radeau, carrying six twenty-four 
pounders, and twelves, besides howitzers ; and a gondola, car- 
rying scven^ nine-pounders. Twenty smaller vessels, imder the 
denomination of gun-boats, carried brass field pieces, from nine 
to iwenty-four-pounders, or were armed with howitzers. Some 
large boats were furnished in the same manper, and about an 
^ equal number of large boats acted as tenders. This fornndable 
fleet, manned by seven hundred chosen seamen, on board of 
which was General Carleton himself, was conducted by Captain 
Pringle, It proceeded immediately in quest of Arnold, who 



164 HiSl'6RY OF THE 

was soon found advantageously posted between llie island of 
Taliccour and the western main. 

Notwithstanding the great disparity of force, a warm action 
ensued on the fourth ot October. An unfavourable wind kept 
the Inflexible, and some others of the largest vessels belonging 
to the enemy, at too great a distance to take part in the action. 
This fortunate circumstance enabled Arnold to keep up the en- 
gagtiment for several hours. Towards night Captain Pringle, 
the English commodore, thought it advisable to discontinue the 
action for the present, and the whole fleet was anchored in a 
line, as near that of the Americans as it could be brought, for 
the purpose of preventing its escape. In this engagement the 
best schooner belonging to the American fleet was burnt, and 
a gondola sunk. 

Finding it impossible to renew the action the next day, Gene- 
ral Arnold made his escape in the niglit, in the hope of reach- 
ing Ticonderoga, wliere he might be sheltered under the guns 
of that fort. The wind being favourable, he was the next morn- 
entirely out of sight. An immediate pursuit, however, was 
made, and about noon he was overtaken and brought to action, 
a few miles north of Crown Point. He kept up a very warm 
engagement for about two hours, in the course of which those 
vessels that were most ahead pushed on, and made their escapcv 
Two galleys and five gondolas, which remained, made a stoiH. 
resistance. One of tiiem, named the Washingtori, at length 
struck, and was taken. Unable longer to maintain the action, 
and determined not to fall into the hands of the enemy. General 
Arnold caused the remaining vessels to be run on shore in such 
a manner as to land the crews in safety ; after which he ordered 
them to be blown up. 

This defeat did not dispirit the Americans, nor lessen the re- 
putation of General Arnold. 

Lake Champlain was now mostly recovered by the British, 
but their great object was to reduce Crown Point and Ticon- 
deroga, in order that they might advance to Albany, and effect 
a junction with part of the British army at New-York. 



STATE OF i\E\V-YORK. 165 

• Geneiaf Carleton procetded to Crown Point, which was 
abandoned by the few Americans who had been left tliere, and 
lai)ded liis army. Some of his vessels advanced within sight of 
Ticonderoga ; but, for unateiy for the Americans, the wind, on 
liie fourteenth of OcU»ber, at wiiich time Carleton was about to 
sail, came about to the southward, and blew fresh from that 
quarter 4br eight days, which made it impracticable for tUe fleet 
to proceed up ihe lake. 

The combined forces of Schuyler and Gates were about ten 
thousand men. Detachments and reconnoitering parties ad- 
vanced on both sides of the lake, within a small distance of the 
American lines. It was expected that the British general me- 
ditated an assault ; but the apparent strength of the works, the 
difficulties that would attend a regular approach, the lateness 
of the season, and the nearness of winter, seem to have deterred 
him from such attempt. 

At the end of about one month, General Carleton re-embark- 
ed his forces, and returned to Canada. The same day Gene- 
rals Schuyler and Gates dismissed the militia, and all military 
enterprises hereabouts were terminated for that year. 

This retrograde movement on the part of General Carleton, 
relieved very much the apprehensions of the Americans in this 
quarter, and enabled General Gates to march with a large de- 
tachment of the northern army, to the banks of the Delaware, 
to the aid of Washington, who had been compelled to retire to 
the right bank of that river. 

An expedition against Rhode Island was planned by the Bri- 
tish. The land forces employed in this service amounted to 
about three thousand men, and were commanded by Sir Henry 
Clinton, and the fleet employed was under Sir Peter Parker. 
They sailed from New- York about the last of November, and 
without much opposition, took possession of the island on which 
Newport, the capital of the state stands, and gave, for a short 
time, a very serious alarm to the states of Connecticut and 
jVlassachusetts. 

This unexpected invasion occasioned a diversion of the mili- 
lia of New England for some time, who had assembled in con- 



166 HISTORY OP THE 

siderable force, to reinforce the army luirler Wasliiiij^lou. In- 
dependeut ot ihis diversion, the British derived permanent ad- 
vantages, and the Americans sustained lasiiiif]:; injuries from the 
possession of this line town and harbour. In addition to this, 
Commodore Hopkins, with most of his squadron, and several 
privateers, were found in Providence river, where they were 
closely blockaded. 

During these military transactions many events occurred, 
which, though of minor importance, are too interesting to re- 
main unnoticed. 

The part which might be taken in the present contest, hy 
the numerous tribes of Indians, inhabiting the immense regions 
west and south of the United States, was a matter of real in- 
terest to the contending powers, and apprehensions were early 
entertained that they would engage on the side of the British. 
Sir John Johnson, son of Sir Wm. Johnson, inherited the great 
influence of his father over the Agoneaseah, and other tribes 
residing about the lakes, and from what could be learned, it was 
evident he was engaged in extrting that influence, in order to 
arm them against the Americans. This excited no inconsider- 
able alarm in the states of New-York and Pennsylvania, whose 
frontiers were exposed to the inroads of those tribes, in case 
they should take up the tommahawk. The alarms in the 
southern states of Indian hostilities were also considerable. 

Very early exertions were made to counteract the machina- 
tions of the enemy, and to secure the neutrality of the Indian 
tribes. So early as the month of July, 1775, commissioners 
were appointed to hold a conference with the Agoneaseah, and 
those about the lakes. 

A treaty was negociated with the Agoneaseah, or Six Nations, 
in which they agreed to observe a strict neutrality, between the 
contending parties. General Schuyler was one of the commis- 
sioners who attended on the part of Congress. And as this 
gentleman possessed an hereditary influence over them, it was 
fondly hoped that they would faithfully observe the neutrality, 
but this hope was soon dissipated. 

In the south, a plan had been formed by Lord Dunmore, to 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 1G7 

liifluce the Clierokees and Crfeeks, and other tribes, lo take up 
arms and co-oper.ite with the loyalists in the back settlements. 

In pursuance of this plan, the Creeks commenced hostilities; 
but as the promised succours did not arrive in season, they 
were induced, by an apprehension that their country might bo 
laid waste by the Americans, to conclude a peace. 

The operations of the Cherokees, who had lifted the hatchet 
about the same time, were of longer continuance and more 
extensive. They made frequent and sudden inroads into the 
country, which they devastated in their usual manner, murder- 
ing and scalping indiscriminately, the mother with her infant, 
ns well as those capable of bearing arms. These inroads be- 
gan about the time the enemy attacked Fort Moultrie, but the 
depredators did not go long unpunished. Several regiments 
of continentals were ordered on to the frontiers, and such of the 
inhabitants as were capable of bearing arms, were assembled, 
who, in conjunction with the troops sent to their assistance, 
marched into the Cherokee country, which they soon laid waste. 
In this distress the Cherokees sued for peace, which was readily 
granted to them. 

The peculiar nature of the war — a war between a sovereign 
and those, who, in its commenceirient, still professed themselves 
to be his subjects, gave birth to several things not usual be- 
tween independent states. Among these, the most interesting, 
was that of the treatment of prisoners. 

Gen. Gage, who had been appointed governor of Massachu- 
setts a little prior to the commencement of hostilities, had receiv- 
ed in that station all the irritations of which his mind was suscep- 
tible—irritations, which, as too frequently happen, seem to have 
been retained by him in his character of commander-in-chief of 
the British forces in America, and to have had no inconsiderable 
share of influence over his conduct. He considered the Ameri- 
cans as rebels, and treated them as if the great national resist- 
ance they were now making on principle, was only the act of a 
few daring individuals, rising against laws of unquestionable 
obligation, who would soon be quelled and punished for their 
disobedience to legitimate authority. In this spirit so well cal- 



168 HISTORY OF THE 

culated to add to tlie calamites of war, and to increase the miser- 
ies of the human race, some distinguished ciiaracters in Boston, 
especially Mr. Lovel, and the American officers and soldiers, 
who fell into his hands, were thrown into the common jail with 
felons, and treated without respect to military rank or condition, 
not as prisoners of war, but as state criminals. 

This unjustifiable measure was remonstrated against by 
Washington and Congress. 

Washington wrote a letter to General Gage on this sulytctj 
in which he urged a different course, and declared his determi- 
nation of retaliation in case of non-compliance. To this let- 
ter a very haughty and intemperate answer was returned. The 
result of this correspondence was communicaied to tlie council 
©f Massachusetts, who directed that the British officers, then 
at Wateriown, and elsewhere on parole, should be confined in 
jail. On the recall of General Gage, the command devolved 
on General Howe, whose conduct was less exceptionable ; and 
this rigorous treatment of prisoners was soon relaxed. 

Not long after this. Colonel Ethan Allen, who had greatly- 
distinguished himself among those that had taken Ticonderoga 
and Crown Point, advanced at the head of some volunteers 
against Montreal, while Montgomery was beseiging St. Johns, 
and on arriving near that town, he was attacked by superior num- 
bers and routed, and himself made a prisoner. Under pretext 
of his having acted without authority, he was clapped in irons, 
and sent to England as a traitor. 

A letter was addressed to General Howe respecting the 
treatment of Colonel Allen, in which he was given to under- 
stand, that unless a different course was observed, General 
Prescot should receive exactly such treatment. 

General Howe not holding any autjiority in Canada, or not 
choosing to answer the letter. Congress ordered General Schuy- 
ler to put him in jail. He was, however, speeddy removed to 
a private house and confined to a room. 

On the arrival of Admiral Howe and General Howe at.New- 
York, the system which had been so long maintained, was 
abandoned, and an exchange of prisoners was agreed on. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 



ia^ 



There was not, however, a sufficient number of prisoners in 
the h.'tuds ofthe Americans to redeem those in the hands of 
the enemy ; and consequently many of iheir citizens remained in 
confinement. From them complaints were daily received of their 
experiencing severe and cruel treatment. These were conhned 
on board of prison ships in large numbers, where they became 
the victims of disease and death. This disgraceful and inhuman 
treatment is supposed to have been adopted for the purpose of 
t'ompelling the miserable sufferers to enter into the british ser- 
vice. When charged with a conduct so unworthy his character, 
and the exalted station he held, Sir William Howe positively 
denied its truth. Perhaps it would be unjust to ascribe to this 
officer, who, though somewhat severe in his temper, did not 
blend in his general system, cruelties which would not have 
been practised in other wars, a degree of inhumanity to those 
entirely in his power. Perhaps it would be no more than jus- 
tice to admit, that his own supplies of provisions, were for a 
time not the best or most plentiful, and that the American sol- 
diers before being captured were very sickly ; but still the ex- 
cessive mortality which prevailed among them, can be account- 
ed for on no ordinary principles ; and those least inclined to 
criminate have ever been of the opinion, that if his orders did 
not contribute to the distress, his authority was not interposed 
with sufficient energy to correct abuses. 

The capture of General Lee furnished an additional ground of 
eontroversy on the subject of prisoners. As he had been an offi- 
cer in the British service, whose resignation perhaps had not been 
received when he entered into the service of America, a dispo- 
sition was at first manifested to treat him as a deserter and a 
traitor, rather than as a prisoner of war. He was, therefore, 
closely confined, but received no other particular hardship. 
Congress, on obtaining information of tins, entered a resolution 
in which they assured General Howe, that if the exchange 
which was offered of the six field officers taken at Trenton, for 
General Lee, should be rejected, and the severe treatment 
already experienced by him should be continued. Lieutenant 
Campbell, and five Hessian field officers, should experience pre* 
VOL. III. 22 



n«' HISTORY OF THE 

cisely the same treatment. This proposition not having^ been 
acceded to, Colonel Campbell, and the five Hessian oiikers, 
were put into close confinement, where they were kept until 
General Ijee was allowed the privileges of a prisoner of war. 

Difficulties arose relative to the prisoners taken at the Ce- 
dars above Montreal, in tlie province of Lower Canada, on the 
ground that the terms of the capitulation had been infracted, on 
the part of the enemy, but it seems that the grounds taken by 
Congress on this subject were untenable, and that they had 
acted on false information. ' The course, however, which they 
took, although it had an injurious effect on the prisoners in the 
hands of the enemy, in the end had a salutary tendency. 

After the sufferings of the prisoners in New-York, on board 
of the prison ships, had been extreme, and great numbers had 
died, the survivors were liberated ; but so wretched was their 
condition, that many of them died on their way home. 

The advantages derived by the United States from their little 
marine, were of signal benefit. Several fortunate captures made 
by public ships or privateers, afforded very opportune supplies 
of ammunition for the use of the army, which otherwise could 
not have acted. « 

It was not, however, in the capture of ammunition and arms 
only, that the enterprising naval spirit of the Americans ren- 
dered essential service to their country. The non-importation 
acts and agreements, which preceded the war, had excluded the 
usual supply of goods, and the internal manufactures could not 
furnish the deficiency. Hence, the army could not be provided 
with necessary clothing and blankets. These wants were in 
some degree relieved by captures from the enemy. The goods 
thus taken would, at any period, and any state of things, have 
constituted an item well worth attention ; but at this time they 
were of inestimable value. The prizes made by the Americans 
in 1776, are estimated by some English writers, at one millioo 
sterling, ($4,400,000) and their amount in the United States, 
is believed to have been more considerable. 

Soon after the enemy had taken post in Rhode Island, Com- 
niodor Hopkins sailed with his little fleet, to New Providemre, 



1 



SJ'ATE OF NEW-VORK. Iti 

^here he made a descent, and seized considerable quantities of 
military stores. 

Ou the east end of Long Island, Hopkins fell in with the 
Glasgow, commanded by Captain Howe, carrying twenty nine- 
pounders, and an engagement ensued, which lasted several 
hours, but Howe, after having damaged the American vessels, 
made sail for Newport. In this action the American naval 
force was very superior to that of the enemy, and on this ac- 
count Hopkins received a full share of public censure. Whether 
the censure was well founded or not, we shall not take upon 
ourselves to decide. Hopkins was a very active man, and had 
made many captures, and it is not improbable, that in this af- 
fair, the enemy were favoured by circumstances which no hu- 
man foresight could control. 

In order to keep up the credit of the country, and meet the 
expenditures, Congress, in 1773, emitted paper money, and 
pledged the faith of the American people for its redemption. 
An opinion was every where entertained, that this pledge would 
be sacredly observed. In some of the colonies depreciation 
had never been known, while in others, its baneful effects had 
been severely experienced. But the general enthusiasm which 
then prevailed, and the expectation entertained that the contest 
would be of short duration, outweighed past experience and 
future apprehension, and gave to this currency an universal 
circulation. Other circumstances were added, which tended to 
give it circulation ; Congress passed resolutions of denuncia- 
tion against all who should dare to discourage others from tak- 
ing it. 

Congress aware, however, that it must in time depreciate, 
and that there were not means within their reach for its redemp- 
tion, used their utmost exertions to procrastinate such an event. 
The emissions, therefore, were at first as small as possible. 
But it was not in the power of Congress to regulate the amount 
of paper money which should come into circulation. Lvery 
state government possessed or claimed the right of emitting 
these bills. 

The consequences of thus increasing the quantity of bills 



J7£ HISTORY or Tills 

put into circulation, were anticipated with trembling appreheu 
sions, while the means for counteracting them could only be 
recommended. 

To economise disbursments, and call in by taxes a part ot 
the sums disbursed, were the only possible means of preventing 
such an accumulation of paper money, as infallibly to continue 
its depreciation, until it should entirely cease to be a circulat- 
ing medium. Congress had not the power of taxation : all it 
could do was to recommend. The state governments did not 
like to hazard the imposition of taxes, lest such a measure 
might give dissatisfaction, which there was reason to believe 
would be the case, since the contest had been undertaken with 
the avowed object of opposing taxation. The payment of the 
first installment of the first emession was postponed to 1779, 
and taxation was not resorted to before the depreciation had 
become considerable, and then the remedy was so sparingly ap- 
plied, as very little to eflect the disease. 

Taxation, which would have been the only means of retard- 
ing the rapid increase of paper money, and sustaining its credit, 
was, in a great measure, avoided ; and in its place artificial 
substitutes were resorted to. !► 

A loan was proposed to be opened for borrowing five mil- 
lions of continental dollars, on an interest ol four per cent., the 
principal to be paid in three years. 

The scheme of a lottery, in four classes, was also suggested, 
by which it was proposed to raise one million five hiindred 
thousand dollars. 

Thest' experiments were of small avail. No depreciation of 
consequence ensued before the early part of 1777; and even 
then, it was not perceived by many. The rise of commodities 
was supposed to be occasioned by their scarcity : this delusion, 
however, was soon dissipated. 

Congress, who appear to have not matured on the subject, 
passed a resolution for the purpose of keeping up the value of 
their bills. In this resolution it was declared, that whoever, in any 
sale or barter, should rate gold or silver coin higher than their 
lulls, should be considered an enemy to the country, and should 



S'fATBOF NEW-TORK. HS 

forfeit the value of the money, or other thing. They also re- 
commended to the several states to pass laws to that eilVct, and 
also declaring these bills a legal tender in the payment of all 
debts, and that a refusal should be deemed a liquidation of the 
debt. 

These attempts to regulate, by law, the value of an article 
depending solely on public opinion, were accompanied by 
other recommendations. 

The public faith had been plighted by Congress for the re- 
demption of their bills. It was, therefore, proposed and recom- 
mended to the several states, that they should engage to redeem 
them at the time fixed on by Congress. Laws were according- 
ly passed by the states, which met the wishes of Congress. 

In the sequel it will be seen that these coercive measures did 
not produce the desired eflect — neither Congress nor the state 
governments could give a lasting value on that which had no 
value. 

As the contest assumed a more serious aspect, and became 
better understood, causes of irritation multiplied, and real in- 
juries were sustained. 

In tlie commencement the opposition was to taxation, and 
the consequences which followed were not generally foreseen 
or even apprehended. Hence, when an appeal was made to 
the sword, many who had been clamorous became luke-warm, 
and were disposed to submit. These men were viewed with 
contempt, and were called tories. In some instances they be- 
came objects of resentment to their neighbours, who were for 
supporting American independence at all hazards. 

In some places these people manifested a disposition to take 
up arms. In North Carolina they collected in considerable 
numbers, but were soon dispersed. In New-York a similar 
disposition was manifested. Considerable numbers of the in- 
habitants of what was then termed the county of Tryon, were 
disaffected ; and General Schuyler marched into that county 
with some militia, when a negociation was entered into with 
Sir John Johnson, their leader, which terminated in a kind of 
capitulation, in which Sir John Johnson, and the tories in his 



174 HISTORY QF THE 

neighbourhood, agreed to surrender their arms, and stipulated 
to take no part in the existing contest. 

With respect to persons of this description, the conduct ob- 
served at first towards them, was in general mild. 

From the first moment that the contest took so serious an as-, 
pect as to threaten hostilities, disaffection to the American cause 
assumed a decided shape, and those under its influence were 
arranged as a party against those measures which were pursued 
by the representatives of the people. 

The disaffected were the most numerous in the states of New- 
York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The presence 
of the British army, in the two former states, and their being 
the principal theatres of action, no doubt had an influence in 
augmenting the numbers. Perhaps the other states would have 
aftbrded the same aspect had they been invaded by such na- 
merous armies. In addition to all this, the state of New-Yorli. 
had very extended frontiers, which were menaced not only with 
invasion from the enemy, but by irruptions from the Indians. 
No wonder then that many of the inhabitants along the fron- 
tiers, and on the coast, should have had an apathy to the war, 
and an inclination to aid the enemy, whom they believed irre- 
sistible. 

See Marshall's Life of Washington, Williams' History of Vermont, and 
Ramsey's History of the Revolutioi). 



STATR OF NEW- YORK. J 75 



CHAPTER VI. 

The enemy concentrates his forces in New-Jersey after the battles 
of Trenton and Frinceton — Stores at Danbury burnt — Ope- 
rations between the Americans, under Washington, and the 
British, under General Howe — Sew- York invaded, on the 
side of Canada, by the British, under Burgoyne — Proclama- 
tion of Burgoyne — Great exertions by General Schuyler to 
oppose the enemy — Ticonderoga invested — The Americans 
abandon Ticonderoga and Mount Independence — Combat be- 
tween the Americans, under Colonel Warner, and the British, 
under General Frazer,at Hubbardton — Disorderly retreat of 
General St. Clair — Burgoyne proceeds up Lake Champlain, 
with the main army, to H hite Hall — The Americans, under 
St. Clair, retreat to Fort Ann — General Schuyler causes all 
the bridges between White Hall and Sandy Hill to be de- 
stroyed, and the road to be obstructed, by falling trees across 
it — Americans fall back on Fort Edivard — Rtin for cements 
are sent on to General Schtiyler — The Americans retire to 
Saratoga-^ Burgoyne reaches Sandy Hill — General Schuyler 
retires to Stillwater, and afterwards to the islands at the 
mouth of the Mohaivk — St. Leger invests Fort Stanwix — 
■The Mohaivk militia are totally defeated at Oriskinny, while 
on their way to relieve the garrison of Fort Stanwix — Gene- 
ral Arnold detached by General Schuyler to the relief of 
Fort Stanwix — His arrival at Fort Dayton — Incident of 
Hon Yost Schuyler — St. Leger raises the iiege, and retires 
to Oswego — Defeat of Colonel Baum near Bennington — 
Murder of Miss 3PCrea — General Schuyler advances to meet 
fiurgoyne — Is superseded by General Gates — Battle on the 
19th of September, between the Americans and British — Bat- 
tle on the 5th of October — Positions of the armies — Retreat 
of Burgoyne and surrender — Sir Henry Clinton takes Forts 
Clinton, Montgomery, Constitution, &ic.— General Vaughan 
hails up the Hudson., an^l bwns Kingston, &c. 



176 liliSTORY OF THE 

1777. — The enemy, after the battles of Trenton and Prince- 
ton, retired to Brunswick and Araboy, on Rariton Kiver, where 
he concentrated his forces, thus leaving almost the whole state 
in the same situation it was before the opening of the cam- 
paign. The American array was now so much reduced, that it 
was unable to act efficiently. In the mean time, however, it was 
augmented by detachments of militia from New-Jersey, Dela- 
ware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, and offensive 
operations were resumed. Skirmishes almost every day en- 
sued. In these the Americans generally had the advantage. 

General Heath moved from his camp at Peekskill to the vi- 
cinity of Kingsbridge, and threatened an invasion of York 
island. This had a beneficial effect, for General Clinton re- 
turned to New- York with most of his forces. 

During the winter, magazines of provisions, and other stores, 
had been laid up in the Highlands, from whence the American 
garrisons, and other ^roops stationed on the Hudson, might 
draw their supplies. Peekskill, on the river, about fifty miles 
north of the city of New- York, had served as a kind of post. 
Mills had been erected, and some troops were in general can- 
toned here. General Howe, learning that the force at this 
place under General M'Dougal did not exceed two hundred 
and fifty men, sent Colonel Bird, on the twenty -third of March, 
up the river, with five hundred men, against it. This officer, 
being accompanied by a frigate and some other armed vessels, 
arrived, and, before the whole of the stores could be removed, 
took the place, whereby the stores were mostly destroyed. The 
enemy soon embarked, in consequence of an attack made on 
his outposts by Colonel Willet. 

At Danbury, on the western frontier of Connecticut, military 
stores to a considerable amount had likewise been collected. 
This place is about twenty miles from the Sound, and was sup- 
posed to be out of the enemy's reach. Against Danbury, how- 
ever, an expedition was projected, and two thousand five hun- 
dred men, mostly provincials in the British service, under the 
command of Governor Tryon, assisted by Generals Agnew and 
Sir William Erskine, were employed in it 



STATE OF NEW-YOHK. 177 

On the evening of the twenty-fifth of April, Tryon landed 
his forces at Campo, between Fairfield and Ncrwalk. General 
Silliman immediately sent expresses to alarm and call out the 
militia. Meanwhile the enemy proceeded, almosU^thout in- 
terruption, to Danbury, which they reached about^^o o'clock 
the next day ; and which place, with the magazines it contain- 
ed, they set on fire and destroyed. Colonel Huniington, who 
was in the town with one hundred and fifty men, retired to a 
neighbouring height, where he awaited the anival of the militia 
that were assembling. General Arnold, who was in the vicini- 
ty, joined General Silliman at Reading, where five hundred 
militia had collected. General Wooster, with some men, lell 
in with them, and they proceeded to Bethel, eight miles from 
Danbury. Here they divided their men, and General Woos- 
ter, with three hundred, attacked their rear, while General Ar- 
nold, with five hundred, engaged their van. Wooster was mor- 
tally wounded, and General Arnold was forced to retreat. — 
The enemy then encamped for the night at Kidgefield, which 
they also fired. The next day they resumed their march, but 
were greatly annoyed by General Arnold, who bad got together 
upwards of one thousand men. They, however, efiected their 
retreat to their vessels, and re-embarked. The loss sustained 
by the enemy in this inroad, amounted to one hundred and 
seventy, and that of the Americans to about one hundred. 
Besides General Wooster, Colonel Gould fell. Colonel Lamb 
was among the wounded. 

The destruction of the stores at Danbury was severely felt ; 
but the enemy derived no advantage by this sudden inroad. It 
served rather to rouse the inhabitants, and make them more active 
in the cause of independence. The opposition which the ene- 
my experienced in his retreat, demonstrated how difficult it 
would be to overrun a small part of New England. 

This inroad was, not long afterwards, retaliated. The ene- 
my had collected forage and provisions to a large amount, at 
the east end of Long Island. 

General Parsons, who had collected some recruits at New 
Haven, dispatched Colonel Meiggs, with two hundred and thirty 

VOL. lit. 23 



178 HISTORY OF THE 

men, in thirteen vvliale boats, on lliis service. Colonel Meiggs 
reached the place on the nventy-fourth of May> surprised the 
enemy, burnt the stores and some small vessels, killed six men, 
and took nuiety prisoners, without the loss of one man. Never 
was an ei^rprise conducted with more secrecy, or carried into 
effect with more success. 

Congress, feelmg apprehensive that the enemy would attack 
Philadelphia, passed a resolution, on the tenth of April, that a 
camp should be immediately formed on the western side of tlie 
Delaware, to which the continental troops in Philadelphia, and 
those on their march from the south and west should repair. 

These forces were, however, soon after ordered to march into 
New-Jersey, and join those under the command of Washing- 
ton, who was forming a camp on strong grounds near the Ra- 
riton. In the mean time the camp near Philadelphia was occu- 
pied by militia. The northern forces were mostly at Peeks- 
kill and Ticonderoga. Those at Rariton, under Washington, 
were designed to cover New-Jersey and Philadelphia on one 
side, and afford aid to those troops at Peekskill, in case the 
enemy should endeavour to make himself master of the Hudson 
and its passes, while those at Ticonderoga were to oppose 
General Burgoyne, should he invade New-York. Such seems 
to have been the disposition of the American armies in the mid- 
dle and northern states, and such their plan of operations. 

The camp near Rariton was ten miles from Brunswick, and 
north of the road leading from New-York to Philadelphia, by 
Princeton. This position 'was very strong, and could not be 
approached v/ithout great difficulty. The American army in 
New- Jersey, on the twenty-first of May, amounted to about ten 

* 

thousand men, over and above five thousand militia, then in the 
field, belonging t^ that state. Washington joined the army 
on the twenty- eighth. General Sullivan lay at Princeton 
with a body of continentals, which were daily increasing, by the 
arrival of recruits from the southward, and the militia of New- 
Jersey, who were coming in. 

The first and real object of the campaign, on the part of 
General Howe, was the acquisition of Philadelphia. But it 



STATE OF NKW-YORK. 179 

was uncertain what route he would take, since there were three. 
One was across New-Jersey, another up Delaware bay and 
river, and the third by ihe Chesapeake. 

Gcneriil Howe resolved on the first route, in case he could 
draw the American anny Ironi its strong position, and bring it 
to battle, but if he could not do this, then he determined to em- 
bark his army on boa^d of vessels, and proceed by the others. 
Having then settled the plan of the campaign, he crossed over 
about the first of June into New-Jersey, and njarched with his 
array to Brunswick, giving strong indications of penetrating 
through the country to the Delaware, and thence to Philadel- 
phia. Washington immediately ordered all the troops at Peeks- 
kill, but one thousand men, to come to his assistance. He di- 
rected Colonel Morgan, with his rillemen, to take post at Van- 
vighton's bridge, on Rariton, just above its conflux with Mill- 
stone river. General Sullivan w.as commanded to change his 
position, and occupy the iiigh grounds on Rock Hill. 

Early in the morning of the fourteenth of June, the British 
army, leaving two thousand men under General Matthews at 
Brunswick, advanced in two columns towards the Delaware. 
The (ront of tlie first, under Lord Cornwallis, reached Somerset 
court-house, nme miles from Brunswick, by daylight ; and the 
second, under General de Heister, about the same time reached 
Middlebush. This movement was made by General Howe, in 
order to induce Washington to quit his camp and approach the 
Delaware, in which event he hoped to bring him to a general 
engagement; but Washington, aware of his object, kept his 
position. 

Finding that the American commander could not be drawn from 
iiis strong position, in which he deemed it unsafe to attack him. 
General Howe decamped, and returned to Amboy, fihere he 
passed some of his troops over to Staten Island. Several de- 
tachments from the American army were sent in pursuit of 
him. 

On the night of the twenty-fifth. General Howe recalled 
those troops that had passed over to Staten Island, and early 
next morning, marched his whole army, in two columns, towards 



180 HISTORY OF THE- 

Westfield. The right, under the command of Lord Cornwailis, 
took the route by Woodbridge, to the Scotch Plains, and the 
]eft, under the immediate command of General Howe, marched 
by Metucking meeting-house. It was intended that the right 
should attack the left flank of the American army, at Quibble- 
town ; vvhile Lord Cornwailis should gain the heights on the 
left of the camp at Middlebrook. Four battalions were detach- 
ed to Bonhamtown. About Woodbridge, the right column of 
the enemy fell in with one of the American parties, detached 
to watch their motions. Washington, on notice of this, put the 
whole army instantly in motion, and regained his camp at 
Middlebrook. Lord Cornwailis fell in with Lord Stirling, 
and a smart skirmish ensued, in which the latter had to retreat 
to the hills, about the Scotch meeting-house, and from thence 
to Westfield. Here Lord Cornwailis halted, and finding the 
passes in the mountains guarded, he retired to Amboy, and the 
whole British army passed over to Staten Island. 

Before lieneial Howe had developed his views, the army of 
General Bur^oyne made its appearance on Lake Champlain, 
and menaced Ticonderoga. On hearing this, General INixon, 
who was at Peekskill, embarked his brigade, and proceeded up 
the Hudson, to Albany. 

Meanwhile, General Hbwe embarked his army, and soon 
after sailed for Delaware and Chesapeake bays, from whence 
he proposed to march to Philadelphia. 

1777. — We shall return to the north, and examine the opera- 
tions in that quarter. In the spring of 1777, General Bur- 
goyne, who had served under General Carleton, in the preced- 
ing campaign, returned from England, and assumed the com- 
mand in Canada. Every thing being in a measure ready for 
the inv tf'ion of New- York, he took immediate steps to carry it 
into execution. The regular forces allotted for this expedition, 
amounted to seven thousand one hundred and thirteen men, 
British and Germans, exclusive of the corps of artillery; of 
these, the Germans amounted to three thousand two hundred 
and seventeen. Large additions were expected from the Cana- 
dians and Indians ; and arras and accoutrements were provided 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 181 

to supply ilie royalists, who were expected to join in lari^Q 
number?. An excelient train of brass artillery was furnished (or 
the campaign. In the execution of the proposed invasion Gen- 
eral Bin-goyne was to be assisted by several of the ablest and 
best officers then in service. Among these were .Major-gcn- 
eral Phillips, of the artillery ; Brigadier-generals Frazer, 
Powel and Hamilton, of the British army, and Major-general 
Reidesel, and Brigadier generel Specht, of the German auxili- 
aries. The army, in every respect, was in the best condition 
that could be desired — the troops were in high spirits, healthy 
and well disciplined. 

To facilitate the operations of the army under General Bur- 
goyne, an expedition was projected against the Mohawk coun- 
try, by the way of Oswego, the command of which was given 
to Colonel St. Ledger. The troops designed (or this expedi- 
tion, amounted to eight hundred men, exclusive of a large body 
of Indians. 

The main army under Burgoyne, embarked at St. Johns, 
and proceeded up Lake Champlain without interru[)tion, and 
soon arrived and encamped at the river Boquet, on the west 
side of the lake, and a little to the north of Crown Point, at 
the place now called Willsborough. There the Indians had 
also assembled, and General Burgoyne, in conformity to their 
customs, gave them a war-feast. On the twenty-first of June, 
he made a speech to them, calculated to rouse their mar- 
tail disposition, but he enjoined on them not to kill any except 
those who should be opposed to them in arms. He promisi d 
them a liberal compensation for all prisoners they should take 
and bring in, but none for scalps. 

The American army which was to oppose this formidable 
invasion, was encamped at Ticonderoga and Mount Indepen- 
dence. General Schuyler, on whom the sole command de- 
volved, after the departure of General Gates for the soutli, had 
been indefatigable during the winter and spring, in providing 
for the wants of the army, and in making arrangements for the 
campaign. He visited, in person, the different posts, and made 
every exertion to meet the enemy. General Schuyler, after 



182 HISTORY OP THE 

having examined the works at Ticonderoga, left the comraanH 
with St. Clair, and returned to Fort Edvyard, a more central 
situation, where he established his head-quarters. 

On the fourth of July, General Biirgoyne issued a procla- 
mation, designed to act on the fears and hopes of the people of 
the country through whidh he intended to march. After a 
short stay at Crown Point, Burgoyne moved on with his army 
to Ticonderoga. 

This fortress lies on the western shore of Lake Champlain* 
at the place where the outlet of Lake George enters, and 
about twelve miles south of Crown Point* Lake Champlain 
and the outlet of Lake George wash it on three sides, while a 
marsh and ditch, with a bank, cover the other side. The 
Americans had strencthened the French lines with additional 
works and a block-house. They had erected other posts with 
works and block-houses, on the left, towards Lake George ; 
and to the right of the French lines, two new block -houses, 
and other works had been added. On the eastern shore of 
the inlet, and opposite to Ticonderoga, there is a high circular 
hill, which they had occupied and fortified. To this they gave 
the name of Mount Independence, On the summit of this hill 
they had constructed a star fort, enclosing a large square of bar- 
racks, well fortified and supplied with artillery. The foot of 
the hill, which, on the west side, projects into the lake, was 
strongly intrenched to the edge of the water, and the intrench- 
ments were well lined with heavy artillery. A battery, about 
half way up the hill, sustained and covered these lower works. 
These two posts had, with infinite labour, been joined together 
by a bridge of communication, thrown over the lake. This 
bridge of communication was supported by twenty-two sunk 
piers, of very large timber, placed nearly at equal distances ; the 
spaces between these were filled with separate floats, each about 
fifty feet long and twelve wide, strongly fastened together with 
chains and rivets, and as strongly connected with the sunken 
pillars. The north side of the bridge was delended by a boom 
of very large pieces of timber, fastened together by riveted 
bolts and double chains, made of iron, an inch and a-half 



1^. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 183 

square. By this work, a communication was not only main- 
tained between the posts, but all access by water was totally 
cut off from the northern side ; but this arduous work was not 
finished when the enemy arrived before the lines. 

This part of Lake Champlain, and thence to its head, is a 
mere strait. • 

But, notwithstanding the apparent strength of Ticonderoga, 
it was effectually overlooked and commanded by a portion of 
the Palmertown mountain, called by some Sugar Hill, and 
by others Mount Defiance. This mountain, by its proximity 
and elevation, had such an entire command both of Ticonde- 
roga and Mount Independence, that an enemy might, from 
thence, have counted the nimbers, and enfiladed every part of 
the works. This circumstance was well known to the American 
officers, and they had a consultation about fortifying this moun- 
tain ; but it was declined, because their works were already 
so extensive that, with the addition of what would be proper on 
Mount Defiance, they would require ten or twelve thousand 
men for the defence, a much greater number than were there 
then. Instead of a full compliment of troops to man the ex- 
tensive lines, and defend the numerous works, the whole force 
which General St. Clair had, did not exceed three thousand 
five hundred men, including militia, and these not well armed. 
From Crown Point, the British army advanced on both 
sides ^ the lake ; the naval force keeping itg^g^tion in the 
ceotee, the frigate and gun-boats cast anchor just out of can- 
on shot from the American works. On the near approach of 
the right wing, which advanced on the west side of the lake, 
on the second of July, the Americans abandoned, and set fire 
to their works, block-houses and saw mills, towards Lake 
George ; and without attempting any serious opposition, suffer- 
ed General Phillips to take possession of Mount Hope. This 
post commanded the American lines in a great degree, and 
cut off their communication with Lake George. The enemy 
charged the Americans on this occasion, with supineness and 
want of vigor ; but this charge smees not well-founded : they 



184 HISTORY OF J" HE 

had not men enough to make any effectual opposition to the 
powerful force which threatened to enclose them. 
^ In the mean time, the British army proceeded with such expe- 
dition, in the construction of their works, the bringing up of their 
artillery, stores, and provisions, and the establishment of posts 
and communications, that by the fifth, matters were so far ad- 
vanced, as to require but one or two days more to completely 
invest the posts on both sides of the lake. Mount Defiance had 
also been examined, and the advantages which it presented 
were so important, that it had been determined to take posses- 
sion, and erect a battery there. Tliis work, tliough attended 
with extreme difficulty and labour, had been carried on by 
General Phillips widi much expedition and success. A road 
had been made over very rough ground, to the top of the mount; 
and the enemy were at work in constructing a level for a bat- 
ter}', and transporting their cannon. As soon as this battery 
should be ready to play, the American works would have been 
completely invested on all sides. 

The situation of General St. Clair was now very critical. 
He called a council of war, to deliberate on measures to be 
taken. He informed them, that their whole elfective number 
was not suffi'.'ient to man one half of the works ; that as the 
whole must be constantly on duly, it would be impossible for 
them to endure the fatigue for any considerable length of lime ; 
that Gener^^jS^huyler, who was then at Fort Edward, JitLnot 
sufficient forces to relieve them ; and that, as the enemy^^^- 
teries were nearly ready to open upon them, and the place wouT<||^^ 
be completely invested in twenty-four hours, nothing could save ^F 
the troops but an immediate evacuation of the posts. 

It was proposed that the baggage of the army, with such 
artillery stores and provisions, as the necessity of the occasion 
would admit, should be embarked with a strong detachment on 
board of two hundred batteaux, and dispatched under convoy 
of five armed galleys, up the lake to Skeensborough, (White 
Hall,) and that the main body of the army should proceed by 
land, taking its route on the road to Castleton, which was about 
thirty miles southeast of Ticonderoga, and join the boats and 



I 



STATE OP NEW-YORK. 185 

galleys at Skeensborough. It was tliouglit necessary to keep 
the matter a secret till ilie time should come, wiien it was to be 
executed. Hence, tiie necessary preparations could not be 
made, and it was not possible to prevent irregularity and disor- 
der, in the difilrenl embarkations and movements of the 
troops. 

About two o'clock in the morning of July the sixth, General 
St. Clair left Ticonderoga, and about three, the troops at 
Mount Independence were put in niotion. The house which 
had been occupied by General de Fermoy, was, contrary to 
ord«TS, set on fire. This afforded complete information to the 
enemy of what was going forward, and enabled them to see 
every movement of the Americans — at the same time, it im- 
pressed the latter with such an idea of discovery and danger, as 
precipitated them into great disorder. About four o'clock. 
Colonel Francis brought off the rear-guard, and conducted their 
retreat in a regular manner ; and soon after, some of the regi- 
ments, through the exertions of their officers, recovered from 
their confusion. When the troops arrived at Hubbardton they 
were halted for nearly two hours, and the rear-guard was in- 
creased by many who did not at first belong to it, but were 
picked up on the road, having been unable to keep up with 
their regiments. The rear-guard was here put under the com- 
mand of Colonel Seth Warner, with orders to follow the 
army, as soon as the whole came up, and to halt about a mile 
and a-half short of the main body. The army then proceeded 
to Castleton, about six miles farther — Colonel Warner, with 
the rear-guard and stragglers, remaining at Hubbardton. 

The retreat of the Americans from Ticonderoga and Mount 
Independence, was no sooner perceived by the liritish, than 
General Frazer began an eager pursuit with his brigade. Ma- 
jor-general Reidesel was ordered to join in the pursuit with the 
greater part of his Germans. General Frazer continued the 
pursuit through the day, and having received intelligence 
that the rear of the American army was at no great distance^ 
ordered his men to lie that night upon their arms. On July 
seventh, at five in the morning, he came up with Colonel War- 



1&& rilS-ifORY OF THtf 

tier, who hail about one flmusand m^n. The Biitish rffilvaiic- 
ed boldly to the attiick, and the two bodies loinieii within sixty 
yards of eaeh other. The conflict was fierce and bloody. 
Golonei Francis fell at the head of his regiment, fighting with 
great gallantry. Warner was so well supported by his officers 
*nd men, that the assailants broke and gave way. They sooi>| 
fcowever, recovered froiil their disorder, formed again, and charg- 
ed ihe Americans with the bayonet, when they, in their turi), 
were put into disorder ; these, however, rallied and returned to 
the charge, and the issue of the batlle became dubious. At that 
pVoment, General Heidesel appeared with the advance party of 
his Germans. These being led into action, soon decided the for- 
iuut" of the day, and the Americans had to retreat. The loss, in 
this' action, was very considerable on the American side. Co- 
lonel Hale, who had not brought h.s regiment, which consisted 
of militia, into action, although ordered so to do, in attempt- 
ing to escape by flight, kll in with an inconsiderable party o( 
the enemy, and surrendered himself, and a number of his men, 
prisoners. In killed, wounded and prisoners, the Americans 
lost in this aciion, throe hundred and twenty our men, and 
the British one hundred and eighty-three in killed and 
yvoandedi 

Confiding in General Fraxer to conduct the pursuit of the 
Americans by land. General Burgoyne undertook to direct the 
chase by water. The boom, and other obstructions to the 
wavtcation of the lake, not being completed, were soon cut 
through ; and so engaged were the British in this business, 
that by nine o'clock in the morning the gun boats, the Royal 
GtofK^e, and li»flexibie frigates, had passed the works. Several 
yegUnenis embarked aboard the vessels and transports, and the 
narsuit vt'as pushed with such vigour, that by three in the after- 
nooft, the foremost brigade of gunboats overtook and engaged 
mi\\ the American galleys near Skeensborongh (White Hall.) 
UpOrt the approach of the frigates, all oppc?<;rtion ceased ; two of 
the galleys were taken, and the other three blown tip. The 
Anvertc^ns n<:)t being in sufficient force to make a stand, set 
&e to the batteaux, aiills, fort and works, and retired towards 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. |87 

f'art Ann, where they were joined by a detachment which had 
been sent by GeneraJ Schuyler from Fort Edward. Tbis party 
of Americans was commanded by Colonel Long. Jo .the 
mean time, Colonel Hiti was detached by General Burgoyne, 
with the ninth regiment towards Fort Ann, with a view to Inter,- 
cept Colonel Long on his way to that fort. On his marcb, 
near Fort Ann, he was attacked by the Americaiis under Colo" 
nel Long, in front, with a heavy and well directed fire ; while 
another party was .pr^'p^ring to fall on liis r«ar. Colonel Hill, 
aware of his danger, retired to a hill to prevent bejng surround-' 
ed, and in this situation was vigorously attacked by sucb num- 
bers, that he was in danger of being cut io pieces. At tbis 
critical juncture, a reinforcement H/rrived, which rendered id 
necessary for Colonel Long to retire. On leaving Fort Ann, 
he set fire to the works and made good his retreat to Fori 
Edwards 

General St. Clair received intelligence of the ^lisaster at 
Skeensborough, about the same time that news came to him Q^ 
Warner's defeat. To avoid the enemy, it was now necessary 
ibr him to change his route, and he sent arders to Colonel 
Warner, to join him at Rutland. Here he fell in with many 
soldiers, who had been separated from the army, and two <l»ys 
afterwards he was joined by Colonel Warner, at the head of 
about ninety men. After dispatching officers to Bennington 
and other places, to stop and ^collect the stragglers, be pro* 
jceeded to join General Schuyler at Fort F»dward. 

The loss sustained by the Americans, in ^heir re^treat iWxm 
Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, was very heavy. AJup 
hundred and twenty-eight pieces of , cannon, 349,760 potmds of 
flour, 143,330 pounds of salt .provisions, a large drov.e qf cattle, 
all their bittt^aux, vessels, and magazines. 

At Slillwalei", on his way to Ticonderoga, General 3cbHy« 
ler was informed of the evacuation cf that place, and 9t 
Saratoga the total logs af the stores .at Skeensbojoug^i was 
also reported to him^ From Generiil St. Clair he had l>ea.r4 
nothing, and the most serious apprychensiops w^e entertajiaefi 
>|Dtr,the arnw coiumanded by tliat officer. %General Scbuyley^ 



188 HISIORY OF THK 

On reaching Fort Edward, found himself at the liead of only 
fifteen hundred continentals, and about the same number of 
militia. 

After the evacuation of Fort Ann, General Burgoyne found 
it absolutely necessary to suspend for a lime all further pursuitj 
in order to give liis army some respite. In the active service 
in which they had been engaged, many of the soldiers had been 
two days without provisions, and they were all without tents. 
The troops were in some derangement ; distinct corps were 
intermingled, and the detachments were far apart. He, there- 
fore, determined to halt a few days at Skeensborough, in order 
to re-assemble his army and arrange it. The baggage, artil* 
lery, and military stores were brought up ; and preparations 
were made, with the utmost dispatch, to move forward to Al- 
bany. 

In the present state of things. General Schuyler, being una- 
ble to meet the enemy, resolved to throw obstructions in his 
way. and thereby gain time. 

The country between Skeensborough and Fort Edward was 
almost entirely unsettled, and covered with woods. In addition 
to this, that part along Wood Creek was broken and intersect- 
ed by sharp ridges, and abounded with swamps and creeks* 
As far as Fort Ann, Wood Creek was navigable with batteaux, 
and of course was useful in the transportation of cannon, mili- 
tary stores, provisions, and heavy baggage. 

For this purpose, the day after the action at Fort Ann, 
General Schuyler ordered a brigade of militia to destroy the 
roads ; to begin the work as near as possible to the place where 
the fort stood, to fall the trees across the road, take up the 
bridges, and throw all the obstructions in the way imaginable. 
On the sixteenth of July he ordered a brigade of continentals 
on the same business, and these, with the militia, laboured with 
much industry and good success in falling trees. He was 
also indefatigable in causing all the cattle to be driven out 
of the way of the enemy, and in removing from Fort George 
to Fort Edward, all the military stores which had been collect- 
ed there, of which his army was in much need, and which it 



s STATE OF NEW- YORK. l&l^ 

was very essential to remove, before the enemy could reach that 
post- 
When General St. Clair had joined General Schuyler at 
Fort Edward, the American army amounted to only four thou- 
sand and four hundred men. While thus endeavouring to ob- 
struct the march of the eneuiy. General Schuyler was not inat- 
feiiiive to the best means of strengthening his own army. Re- 
ii)forrements of regular troops were earnestly solicited. The 
militia of New-York and New England were called for, and all 
his influence in the surrounding country was exerted to re-ani- 
mate the people, and prevent their defection. As a mean of 
«reating some additional delay in the movements of the enemy» 
he directed Colonel Warner to take post, with his regiment, on 
their left flank, in what was then termed the New Hampshire 
Grants, now Vermont, with instructions to raise the militia in 
that quarter. General Schuyler hoped, that the appearance of 
-^ respectable military force menacing their flank and rear, 
would induce the enemy to strengthen the garrison of Ticon- 
^eroga, and would also retard the advance of his main army. 

While at Skeensborough, (White Hall) General Burgoyne 
issued a second proclamation, summoning the people of the ad- 
jacent country to send ten deputies from each township to meet 
Colonel Skeen at Castleton, in order to deliberate on such 
measures as might still be adopted to save from destruction 
those who had not yet conformed to his first proclamation, and 
submitted to the royal authority. Apprehending some inju- 
rious effects from this proclamation, General Schuyler issued a 
counter one, stating to the inhabitants the insidious designs of 
the enemy, warning them by the example of New Jersey, of the 
danger to which their yielding would expose them ; and for-- 
bidding them, in the most solemn manner, to send deputies. 

The evacuation of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, 
was an event for which no part of the United States was pre- 
pared. Neither the strength of the invading army, nor of the 
garrisons had been any where understood. The opinion was 
common, that the enemy's forces did not exceed five thousand 
men. The garrisons, it was generally supposed, nearly equalled 



19^0 HISTORY OF THE 

tJhe enemy in numbers. A very few days before those places 
were invested, Genera! Schuyler, from an inspection of the 
muster rolls, had stated the garrison at five thousand men, and 
the provisions abundant. When, therefore, it was understood 
that places, on the fortifications of which much money and la- 
bour had been expended j and which were considered as the keys 
to the northern states, and supposed to contain garrisons nearly 
pr quite equal to the invading army, had been abandoned with- 
out a siege ; that an immense train of artilljery, consisting of 
one hundred and twenty-eight pieces, and all the baggage* 
inilitary stores, and provisions, had either fallen into the hands 
of the enemy or been de^^troyed ; that the army on its retreat 
had been attacked, defeated, and dispersed, astonishment per- 
vaded all ranks of men ; and the conduct of the officers was 
universally condemned. Congress directed a recall of all the 
generals of the department, and an inquiry into their conduct. 

The conduct of St. Clair was very extraordinary ; he had 
omitted to call in reinforcements in time; he had delayed the 
evacuation of the forts, till it was impossible to remove the 
.-cannon, military stores and baggage; he had foresfien none of 
the enemy's measures, nor had he taken any steps to guard 
against them. Hence, every step which he took after the eva- 
cuation was determined on, was marked with indecision and 
the most consummate folly. He seems not to have possessed a 
genius that find^ relief in instantaneous resource, decisive coun- 
cil, or animating action. 

In the mean time, great exertions were made Jo reinforce the 
northern army. The utmost industry was used to procure a 
supply of tents; artillery and ammunition were sent from IVIas- 
sachusetts, and the remaining troops of that state were ordered 
upon that service. General Lincoln was directed to raise an^ 
take command of the JNew England militia. General Arnold 
was ordered to the northern army, in the hope that his presence 
would serve to reanimate the troops ; Colonel Morgan, with hi? 
riflemen, was detached on the same service, and the militia of 
Ihe state of New-York were called out. 

Having allowed a short repose to his army, wliije pa,rtm 



STATE OV NKW-YOKK. I^ 

*('er6 einploved In bring-'mi; up the tents and provisions, Gen- 
eral IJuriJoviie, elated at the success wliich had hitherto attend'- 
t<\ liiin, proceeded with ardour to complete the remaining oljects 
of the campaign. He soon perceived the toils and delays 
which must be enconntered before he could reach the Hudson. 
He fotuid it necessary to remove tl>e obstructions in Wood 
Creek, in order to ascend it whli boats, and also to clear the 
road of the fallen tin)ber, and render it passable from the navi- 
gable {)arts of Wood Creek to Hudson's River. These works 
were much more difiicult than lie had aiiticipated, and so very 
slow were the operations, that he did not reach the Hudson 
until the thirtieth day of July, although the distance is only 
twenty-two miles. And even after he had reached the Hudson, 
Fie had to halt until his batteaux, provisions, artillery and other 
materials, necessary to enable him to proceed in the expedition, 
anived-. 

The time afforded by this delay, had been employed by 
Schusler to the utmost advantage Some reinfor( ement^ of 
continentals had been received from Peekskill ; and though the 
critical season of the year, it being harvest time, together with 
the dishke to him prevailing in ^ew England, prevented the 
militia from turning out in considerable numbers, they appeared 
in sufBcient force to make a respectable addition to the re- 
gular army. But the loss of all the salt provisions was severe- 
ly felt. Unaccustomed to the use of fresh meat only, the Ameri- 
can soldiers when confined to it, became very sickly ; and this 
cause tended still more to diminish a force already too inconsi- 
derable to afford a reasonable prospect of success, in a contest 
with the enemy opposed to them. On this account, as Bur- 
goyne approached Fort Edward, General Schuyler retired ovet 
the Hudson to Saratoga, a kw miles below that place. 

From thence General Lincoln was dispatched to take the 
command of the militia, which were then assembling at Man- 
chester, under Colonel Warner. 

From Saratoga, General Schuyler retired to Stillwater, and 
thence to Watervliet, and took a position, which he caused ttf 
be strongly fortified. 



J 92 HISTORY OP THE 

Meanwhile he ordered General Lincoln to join him. Very 
soon after, being intormed that Burgoyne had evacuated Cas- 
tlelon, so that there was no longer any communication kept 
up with Ticonderoga, but through Lake George, and that the 
garrison of that important place consisted of only three hundred 
men, he countermanded the orders which he had given to 
General Lincoln, and directed him to march, with the New 
England militia under his command, amounting to between 
two and three thousand men, and, if possible, take that place, 
and destroy the enemy's communication with Lake Champlain, 
This movement he supposed would compel General Burgoyne 
to weaken his army, by sending detachments either to reinforce 
the posts in his rear, or to attack General Lincoln. 

About the same time too he was informed that Colonel St. 
Leger, with a large detachment of regulars, tories, and Indians, 
had penetrated from f'ort Oswego, on Lake Ontario, by the 
way of Oswego and Oneida Rivers, Oneida Lake, and Wood 
Creek, to the upper part of the Mohawk, and had began to 
besiege Fort Stanwix. The fort was too weak to hold out 
any considerable time against a regular siege, and it therefore 
became necessary to attempt an immediate relief. General 
Schuyler ordered General Herkimer to assemble the militia of 
Tryon county, and proceed without delay to its relief. This 
officer, who seems to have had little experience in military af- 
fairs, set out with eight hundred men. St. Leger, on being 
informed of his approach, detached Sir John Johnson, with a 
regiment of tories, and all the Indians then in his service, to 
oppose him. The whole country, for eight miles east of Utica, 
and so westwardly to Fort Stanwix, except a small space around 
a block-house, at the place where Utica now stands, was cover*- 
ed with thick woods, and traversed by only a single road. Sir 
John Johnson, finding that General Herkimer marched without 
taking those precautions so necessary to the safety of an army 
advancing through woods, laid an ambuscade for this gerteral 
and his militia, a little west of Oriskinny, into which the Ame- 
ricans were unfortunately drawn, and totally defieated, on the 
■sixth day of August. The loss, besides the general and seve^ 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 193 

ral committee-men, and leading political characters, amounted 
to four hundred men, most of whom were killed. The slaugh- 
ter was prevented from being rendered still more terrible, by the 
very timely sortie made by the brave Lieutenant-colonel W'illet, 
which checked the pursuit, and recalled the enemy to the de- 
fence of their own camp. 

Fort Stanwix was garrisoned by about six hundred conti- 
nental troops, from New-York and Massachusetts, under the 
command of Colouel Gansevoort. The besieging army, under 
St. Leger, consisted of sixteen or eighteen hundred men, com- 
posed of British, tories, Canadians, and Indians. On his first 
appearance, Colonel St. Leger demanded an immediate sur- 
render, but Colonel Gansevoort answered, that he intended to 
defend the fort to the last extremity. In this sortie Colonel 
Willet led only two hundred men, yet it was so unexpected, 
and the movements of this gallant ofiicer were so rapid and 
vigorous, that the enemy fled from his lines, and sought refuge 
in the woods ; and the party returned into the fort with many 
muskets, blankets, kettles, and other things, which they took. 
A party of regulars endeavoured to form an ambuscade in the 
woods, which, in a measure, at this time, environed the camp, 
in order to cut off his retreat ; but he discovered and defeated 
the attempt. With a field-piece, which accompanied him, he 
played on them with grape-shot, in addition to which he at- 
tacked them with musketry, and entirely dispersed them ; after 
which he returned into the fort, without the loss of a man, hav- 
ing killed several of the enemy, among whom were some Indian 
chiefs. 

Elated as highly with the defeat of Herkimer, as the French 
had been with the defeat of Braddock, between whose defeats 
there seems to have been a strong analogy, Colonel St. Leger 
made a second demand upon Colonel Gansevoort, requiring 
him to surrender the fort, and manilesting the danger to which 
both the garrison and country would be exposed from the re- 
sentment of the Indians, his allies, in case of further resistance; 
a resentment which he had with infinite difficulty repressed lor 
the moment ; but which he should be unable longer t9 restrain, 

VOL, in. 25 



194 HIsrOR¥ OF THE 

if the opposition should be continued. This message, which 
was at first verbal, and sent by Colonel Butler, Colonel Gan- 
sevoort refused to receive ; and the demand was the next day 
made in writing. Colonel Gansevoort with firmness replied, 
that being intrusted by the United States to defend the place, 
he should do it to the last. 

On receiving this answer, the firing on the fort was resumed, 
and St. Leger addressed a letter to General Burgoyne, inform- 
ing hini of the utter defeat of the militia of the Mohawk coun- 
try. The militia, he said, and very truly, could not rally again 
to molest him. and his only apprehensions were from continen- 
tal troops, who might come up the Mohawk to the relief of the 
fort. He, therefore, suggested a rapid movement on the Ame- 
rican army below him. 

In order, if possible, to rouse the militia, who had become 
considerably depressed by the recent bad conducted expedition, 
Colonel Willet and Lieutenant Stockwill undertook a very dan- 
gerous affair. They passed by night through the besiegers' 
camp and works, crawling on their hands and knees for nearly 
half a mile, till they reached the river: in despite of every dan-^ 
ger and the watchfulness of the enemy, they arrived safely at 
Germanflats, where they succeeded in collecting a few militia. 

General Schuyler, as soon as he heard of the defeat of the 
militia of the Mohawk country, and the imminent danger of the 
garrison at Fort Stanwix, and the exposed situation of the 
frontiers in that quarter, detached General Arnold, with three 
continental regiments, to raise the siege. This general set out 
from Stillwater about the fifteenth of August, and proceeded up 
the Mohawk, as far as Fort Dayton, near the confluence of the 
Mohawk and West Canada Creek. 

Meanwliile Colonel St. Leger detached Captain Butler with 
a party of men to Germanflats, then in the country of Tryon, 
to summon the inhabitants to surrender and submit to his Bri- 
tannic Majesty's government. On the arrival of Butler in the 
upper part of the present town of Germanflats, he sent out 
Hon Yost Schuyler, a refugee, with twelve men, to reconnoitre 
and gain intelligence. Schuyler and his companions wera 



STATE QJT NFW-YOttK. 195 

made prisoners and carried to Fort D;iyton. Here Schuyler 
was tried by a court-martial, and sentenced to death. His 
mother, Ehzabelh Schuyler, on hearing of the trial and condem- 
nation ot her son, repaired immediately from Fall Hill to Fort 
Dayton, in order to intercede with the general to spare him. 
General Arnold, being deeply aflected with the entreaties and 
tears of the mother, told lier that he would pardon her son, Hon 
Yost, provided he would go forthwith to the camp of St. Leger, 
at Fort Stanwix, and circulate a report, that he. General Arnold, 
\vas advancing by forced marches with two thousand men, to 
(he relief of the garrison, and that he would be there in twenty- 
four hours. To this, the mother and Hon Yost, her son, agreed, 
but the genera! required a hostage. This increased the mo- 
ther's anxiety for the fate of her son. She did not know what to 
do. The general would not take her, although she solicited 
him so to do with many tears. In this dilemma, her son Nicho- 
las offered himself as a hostage for his brother, and for the 
faithful performance of what the general required, declaring that 
he was willing to suffer death in lieu of his brother, in case his 
brother did not do every thing required. The gallant general, 
struck with the proposition of Nicholas, accepted of it. — 
Hon Yost was sent forthwith to the camp of St. Leger, while 
Nicholas was taken into custody, and kept under a guard. In 
the mean time, Hon Yost proceeded with all possible dispatch 
to Fort Stanwix, and arrived there very early the next morning. 
His companions, who knew of his captivity, and who never expec- 
ted to see him again, were overjoyed at his return. They inquir- 
ed of him how he had escaped, and asked him many questions; 
to all of which he replied with promptness. He told them that 
Arnold was on his march for that place, with two thousand 
men, and would be there in a few hours. These tidings were 
instantly carried to Colonel St. Leger, who sett and had 
Hon Yost brought to his tent. Here he was interrogated, and 
gave the same information which he had to his companions. 
St. Leger, thereupon, called a council, in which it was resolv- 
ed to raise the siege without delay, and retreat down Wood 
Creek. No time was lost in carrying this resolution into efiect, 



196 HISTORY OF Till. 

as the Colonel gave implicit credit to every thing that Hon 
Yost told him. The retreat was made in such haste, that the 
tents were left standing, and every thing abandoned, except 
what the men could carry on their backs. 1 he retreat was on 
the twenty-second day ot August. Hon \ost accompanied the 
army of St. Ledger to the mouth of Wood Creek, where he 
deserted and returr)ed to Fort Stanwix, and thence to Fort 
Uayton, when his brother was released from confinement, to the 
no small joy of his mother and relations. Such was the result 
of the siege of Fort Stanwix. Good sometimes grows out of 
evil. Hon Yost Schuyler had taken up arms against his coun- 
try ; had been made a prisoner and condemned to death ; but 
owing to his motlier, and the policy of General Arnold, was 
made the instrument of inducing the enemy to raise the siege 
of Fort Stanwix, whose brave garrison was reduced to great 
straits. 

General Burgoyne, who had been incessantly employed 
from the thirtieth of July, in bringing forward batteaux, pro- 
visions and ammunition from Fort George, to the nearest navig- 
able part of the Hudson, a distance of fifteen miles, was already 
informed of the arrival of Colonel St. Leger, before Fort 
Stanwix. But the obstacles to his further progress, now mul- 
tiplied every day, and each step produced new embarrass- 
ments. 

Not more than one-third of the draught horses contracted for 
in Canada, had arrived. This was not imputable to any neg- 
lect in those to whom the agency of that business had been 
confided, but to the natural accidents attending so long and in- 
tricate land and water carriage. General Schuyler had taken 
the precaution to remove as much as possible, out of his reach, 
the draught horses .and cattle of the country, so that from this 
seruce, his supplies were by no means such as some of his 
friends had induced him to expect, and altogether inadequate 
to his wants. He had, indeed, secured fifty ox teams, but 
such was the badness of the roads, rendered much worse by 
the great quantities of rain which had fallen, that it was often 
necessary to einploy five or six yoke of oxen in the transporta- 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 19T 

lion of a single balteaux. Even with these aids and unicmit- 
jing labour, he had only brought over twelve baiteaux into the 
Hudson, and provisions for the arn)y for four days, in advance, 
by the fifteenth of August. 

An immediate and rapid movement down the Fludson, had 
suggested itself to the British general, as a measure of the ut- 
most importance. In that event the American army would not, 
he conceived, march up the Mohawk country, because such a 
movement would place it between his army and that ot St. 
Leger, and woukl leave Albany totall}^ uncovered. It must, 
therefore, either hazard a general action, retreat belore him, 
or cross the Hudson and fall back upon JNew England Either 
of these events he considered as opening the whole Mohawk 
country to St. Leger, and securing a junction of the two 
armies. 

The great difficulty attending the execution of his plan, and 
which alone embarrassed him, was how to provision his army 
until it should reach the fertile country below him. The diffi- 
culty of drawing supplies from Lake George, would every 
day increase with the distance and additional portage ; and the 
communication already endangered by a large body of militia 
assembling at White creek, could only be secured by larger 
detachments from his army, than he was in a condition to make. 
The proposed movement, therefore, must either be abandoned, 
or some other mode of supply attempted. The latter part of 
ihe alternative was embraced. 

It was well known, that the principal part of the live cattle, 
with whiclvthe American army was supplied, was drawn from 
New England, and passed through Manchester, Arlington, 
and other parts of the Hampshire Grants, to Bennington, from 
whence they were occasionally conveyed to the American camp. 
A large depot of corn and carriages had been collected and 
made at the same place, which was generally guarded by some 
militia. The possession of these magazines would enable him 
to prosecute his further plans, without a reliance on supplies 
from Lake George, and he determined, if practicable, to sur- 
prise and seize them. 



198 IIISTORl OK THE 

Lieutenant-colonel Baum, with five hundred Germnns, some 
provincials and Canadians, and more than one hundred In* 
dians, was sent on this service. To facilitate the operations of 
Colonel Baum, and to be ready to lake advantag" of the suc- 
cess which it was supposed would attend his arms, General 
Burgoyne moved along the east bank of tlie Hudson, and en« 
camped nearly opposite Saratoga ; having, at the same time» 
thrown a bridge of rafts over the river, by which the army 
passed to that place. With a view to support Colonel Baum, 
if it should be found necessary. Lieutenant colonel Breyman's 
corps, consisting of the Brunswick grenadiers, light infantry 
and chasseurs, were posted at Battenkill. 

On approaching Bennington, it was discovered that a much 
more considerable force was collected there than had been sus- 
pected. The New Hampshire militia, under General Stark, 
had fortunately reached that place on their way to camp. 

Perceiving the danger of his situation, Colonel Baum halt- 
ed in the towns of Hoosic and Bennington, some where on the 
borders, and about four miles from the village of Bennington, 
and dispatched an express for a reinforcement. Meanwhile he 
strengthened himself as well as was in his power, by intrench- 

ments. 

Lieutenant-colonel Breymen was immediately ordered to his 
assistance ; but such was the state of the roads, that although 
the distance was only twenty-four miles, and he continued his 
march unremittingly from eight o'clock in the morning, of the 
fifteenth of August, he did not reach the ground where Colonel 
Baum had been encamped until four in the afternoon of the 
uext day. 

General Stark having received information that a party of 
Indians were at Cambridge, sent Lieutenant colonel Grey, on 
August thirteenth, with two hundred men to stop their progress. 
Towards night he was informed by express, that a large body 
of regulars was in the rear of the Indians, and advancing to- 
wards Bennington. On this intelligence. General Stark drew 
together his brigade and the militia that were at hand, and sent 
on to Manchester, to Colonel Warner, to bring on his regl- 



STATE OF NEW-YOKK. 199 

ment ; he also sent expresses to the neighbouring niilitia, to 
join him with the utmost speed. On the morning of the four- 
teenth, he marched with his troops, and at the distance of seven 
miles he met Colonel Grey on the retreat, and the enemy with- 
in a mile of him. General Stark drew up his men in order 
of battle ; but the enemy coming in sight, halted upon a very 
advantageous piece of ground. Colonel Baum perceived the 
Americans were too strong to be attacked with his present 
force, sent an express to General Burgoyne, with an account of 
his situation, and to have Colonel Breyman march immedi- 
ately to support him. 

In the mean time, the small parties of the Americans kept up 
a skirmish with the enemy, and killed and wounded thirty of 
them, with two of their Indian chiefs, without any loss to them- 
selves. The ground which General Stark had taken, being un- 
favourable for a general action, he fell back about half a mile 
and encamped. He called a council of war, in which it was de- 
termined to send two detachments upon the enemy's rear, while 
the rest of the troops should make an attack upon their front. 
The next day the weather was rainy, and though it prevented a 
general action, there were several skirmishes between small par- 
lies which proved favourable to the Americans. 

On August the sixteenth, in the morning, General Stark was 
joined by Colonel Symond, and a body of militia, from Berk-^ 
shire in Massachusetts, and proceeded to attack the enemy, 
agreeably to the plan which had been concerted. Colonel 
Baum, had, as we have already mentioned, intrenched himself 
on an advantageous piece of ground, near St. Coic's mills, on 
a branch of Hoosic River, and rendered his post as strong as 
his circumstances and situation would admit. Colonel Nichols 
was detached with two hundred men, to the rear of his left, and 
Colonel Herrick, with three hundred men, to the rear of his 
right; both were to join, and then make the attack. Colonels 
Hubbard and Stickney, with two hundred more, were ordered 
on the right, and one hundred were advanced towards the front, 
to draw the attention of the enemy that way. About three 



200 U I STORY OF THE 

o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy had taken tlieir station, anti 
were ready to commence the action. VVIiile Coiontls Nichols 
■and Herri( k were bringing their troops togeUier, tl)e Indians 
were alarmed at the prospect, and pushed off between the two 
corps-^but received a fire as they were passing, by w hich three 
of them were killed and two wounded. Nichols then began the 
attack, and was followed by all the other divisions; those ia 
the front, immediately advanced, and in a few minutes, the ac- 
tion became general. It lasted about two hours, and was like 
one continued peal of thunder. Colonel Baum made a brave 
defence, and the German dragoons, alter they had expended 
their ammunition, led by their Colonel, charged with their 
swords, but were soon overpowered. Their works were carried 
on all sides, their two pieces of cannon were taken. Colonel 
Baum himself was mortally wounded and taken prisoner, and 
all his men, except a few who had escaped into the woods, were 
either killed or taken prisoners. 

Having completed the business, the militia began to disperse, 
and look out for plunder. Fortunately, Colonel Warner came 
up with some continentals and militia, and instantly led them on 
against Colonel Breyman, and began the second engagement. 
General Stark re-assembled the militia as soon as possible, and 
pushed on to his assistance. The action became general, and 
was continued with obstinacy till sun set, when the Germans 
gave way, and were pursued till dark. They left their two 
field-pieces behind, and a considerable number were made 
prisoners. They retreated in the best manner they could, im- 
proving the advantages of the night, to which alone their escape 
was ascribed. 

In these actions, the Americans took four brass field-pieces, 
twelve brass drums, two hundred and fifty swords, four ammu- 
nition wagons, and about seven hundred prisoners, with their 
arms and accoutrements. Two hundred and seven men were 
found dead upon the spot — the number of wounded were lui- 
known. The loss of the Americans was about thirty slain, 
and forty wounded. 



bTATE OF NEW-YORK. 201 

(jt-nenil Stark on the fourth of October, received the thanks 
ol Congress, for the sit; nul victory which he had gained over 
the enemy, and also the appointment of Brigadier-j^eneral ia 
tlie aru)} of ihe United States. 

General Stark had been an officer of much reputation in the 
French war — he liad commanded one of the ranging compnnies, 
and had been so active and useful, tliat Lord Loudon had put 
him upon the British establishment and pay In the campaign 
of 1775, he had the conuiiand of one of the New-Hampshire 
regiments ; and few, or no officer, had displayed more know- 
ledge or bravery in the batile of Bunker Hill. Viewing him- 
self as neglected and dishonoured by Congress, in not being 
jMomoted to the rank of Brigadier-general, he had left the conti- 
niMital service. Su( h was the situation of S'ark when made 
Brigadier general, in 1777, by the legislature of New Hamp- 
shn*e. 

On what small events does popular opinion and military suc- 
cess depend ! The defeat and capture of about one thousand 
Hessian>, by Washington, at Trenton, had roused the people 
and saved the Fredish Stales. The victory of General Stark 
now served to rouse the people of the north, and stimulate them 
to those great exertions which j'esulted in the defeat and capture 
of Burgoyne. This was the fust victory that had proved any 
way eiicouraging to the Americans, in the north, since the de- 
feat of General Montgomery. Defeat had succeeded defeat, 
and mislortune iiad followed misfortune, till now. This success 
raised the drooping spirits of the people, while it depressed 
liiose of the invaders. 

St. Leger, afier having raised the siege of Fort Stanwix, re^ 
turned to Montreal, from whence he proceeded to Ticondera- 
ga, with the intention of joining General Burgoyne by that 
route. 

The victory obtained by General Stark at Beimington, over 
Colonel Baum, and the retreat of Colonel St. Leger from Fort 
Sianwix, were very important in their consequences. The re- 
duction Irom the force of the enen)y by these events, amounted 
to nearly or quite three thousand men. By the first, the n^rth^* 
VOL. III. 26 



20j2 history of th£ 

western part of New England was freed from invasion ; and by tlie 
second, the Mohawk country was rescued from a like calamity. 
By these events the Americans were enabled to unite all their 
forces in the north against Burgoyne, and bring the campaign 
to a speedy and happy issue. 

The militia and continentals had recovered that confidence 
in themselves, which a long series of misfortunes had greatly 
diminished. The enemy's army which had heretofore spread 
terror and dismay, was considered as already vanquished ; and 
the opinion now became common, tiiat it was only necessary 
for the militia to be called out in mass, in order to conquer the 
enemy, and emancipate the country. The disaflected had be- 
come timid, and the wavering, who would have furnished aids, 
had the enemy been successful, withheld them. 

The barbarities too, which had been perpetrated by the Indians 
belonging to the army of Burgoyne, as well as by those belong- 
ing to that of St. Leger, excited more resentment than terror. 
As the prospect of revenge began to open, the effect of those 
horrid barbarities became the more apparent; and their influ- 
ence on the royal cause was the more sensibly felt, because they 
were indiscriminate. The murder of Miss M'Crea, an accom- 
plished young lady, engaged to a i British officer, passed through 
all the public papers, and the narrative in itself sufficiently af- 
fecting, being smoothed and enlarged by the hands of several 
masters, excited every where an extraordinary degree of interest 
and sensibility. 

The murder of Miss M'Crea was perpetrated one mile north 
of Fort Edward, on the west side of the highwaj^ at a spring 
near the foot of a pine tree. The following are the circum- 
stances which attended the murder : — From these it is manifest 
that General Burgoyne had no agency in it. Miss M'Crea 
was betrothed to a Mr. Jones, an American refugee, who 
was in the army of Burgoyne. Solicitous for a union with 
his intended spouse, he dispatched a party of Indians, belong- 
ing to the British army, to call on her and escort her to the 
British camp. Against the remonstrances of her friends, this 
lady conunittcd herself to their charge. She was placed on 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 203^ 

liorscback, nnd accompiuiied t!)e Indians to the spring, where 
they were met by otiier l.idians sent on the same errand. A 
dispute arose between them as to the reward, (which was a bar- 
rel of rum) and while thus engaij:;ed in the dispute, they were at- 
tacked by some Americans. At the close of the conflict, the 
uni'ortunate young lady was found, a short distance from the 
spring, tommahavvked and scalped. 

Bui there were other causes of still greater influence in pro- 
ducing the events, which afterwards took place. The last re- 
inlbrcements of continental troops arrived in camp about this 
time, and added both courage and strength to the army. The 
Ijarvest, which had operated powerfuU}' in detaining the militia 
upon their farms, was entirely over ; and General Schuyler, 
whose continued and eminent services had not exempted hirai 
from the imputation of being a traitor, was succeeded by Gene- 
ral Gates. 

When General Schuyler was directed by Congress to resnme 
the command of the northern department, General Gates had 
withdrawn himself from it ; and now, when General Schuyler 
had repaired the losses occasioned by the precipitate and badly 
conducted retreat of General St. Clair, and placed the army in 
a situation to conquer, General Gates superseded him. This 
happened on the twenty-first of August, and after the defeat of 
Colonel Baum, and the day before Colonel St. Leger raised 
the siege of Fort Stanw ix, the two events which led to the defeat 
and capture of Burgoyne's army. It was at this particular 
crisis that General Schuyler was deprived of the command. 
His removal appears to have been unjust and severe, and can- 
not be justified on any other ground than, perhaps; public poli- 
cy. A popular clamour had been very unmeritedly raised 
against him, in consequence of the unfortunate retreat of St. 
Clair, and by rival candidates (or the command of this army ; 
and it will appear in the sequel, that General Gates had no 
small share in these rivalsliips. 

General liurgoyne, notwithstanding his disasters at Benning- 
ton and Fort Stanvvix, evinced no disposition (o relinquish tiie 



204 HISTORY OF T»E 

erttel*pris6. Led on by fate, he still cherished the Impe of bcifig 
ab e to accomphsh the object of the campaign, aii;l resolved lo 
persevere in his endeavours to execute the plan which had been 
formed by the cabinet of St. James. 

But it was now necessary for him to have recourse to his ori- 
ginal slow and toilsome mode of obtaining supplies from Fort 
George, and to this object he applied with unremiiiiig indus- 
try. Having, with great care and with persevering labour, 
collected in advance, provisions lor thirty days, and thrown a 
bridge of boats over the H.idson, that made of rafts beint; car- 
ried away by a swell of the river, he crossed on the thirteenth 
and fourteenth of September, and encamped on the flats and 
heights of Saratoga, with the determination of deciding, in a 
general engagement, the fate of the expedition. 

General Gates, who was now joined by all the continental 
troops destined for the northern department, and reinforced by 
very strong corps of militia, had led his camp at Halfmoon, and 
advanced towards the enemy as far as Stillwater. 

The bridges between the two armies, which had been broken 
down bv General Schu}ler, required to be repaired. The roads 
were excessively bad, and the country, except along the banks 
of the river, covered with woods. Hence, the progress of the 
British army down the river was very slow, and atieiid* tl with 
some skirmishing, in which, however, no great loss was sus- 
tained on either side. On the night of the seventeenth, General 
Bnrgoyne encamped within four miles of the American army, 
and the next day was employed in repairing the bridges between 
the two camps. 

This was effected with some loss, and about noon of the 
ttin^-teenth, General Gates was informed, that the enemy was 
ttdvancing in full force on his left, where General Arnold com- 
manded. ' 

About one o'clock, some of the American scouting parties 
fell in with those of the British, and began the attack with 
great animation. The firing was no sooner heard, than the ad- 
vanced parties of both armies moved on, and being supported 



STATE OP NEW-YORK. 205 

and reinforced by their respective commanders, the battle soon 
became fierrt: and obstinate' ; the Americans aiming not to re- 
ceive, but to commence the attacks. From the natnre of llie 
ground, the American generals were unable to perceive ihe^ 
different combinations of the march of the enemy ; nnd their 
first attempt was to turn the right wing of the British army. 
The strong position of General Fr izer jjrevented their being 
al>le to execute this design. They ne\t moved in a very regu- 
liir order, and made a furious attack upon the right of the left, 
wing. The battle was now become g«meral with the whole of 
the righi wing of the British arm}', and both armies appeared 
determineri to conquer. Rein(brcements were continually 
brought up, and about four o'clock, General Arnold, with nine 
cou'.inental regimr-nts, and Morgan's ride corps, was completely 
engaged with the enemy's right wing. A continued fire was kept 
for three hnurs, without any intermission. ^I'he Americans 
and the British were alternately driven, and drove each other. 
Several pieces of cannon were taken and retaken several times. 
On both sides the action was maintained with -a resolution and 
steadiness which nothing could exceed, and the approach of 
diirkness alone, put an end to this terrible contest. The Bri- 
tish remained on the field under arms all night, but the Ameri* 
cans withdrew to their camp. 

Severe and indecisive as the battle bad been, the advanta- 
ges which attended it vvt-re wholly on the side of the Ameri- 
cans. The British lost upwards of five hundred men, in killed, 
w;iunded and prisoners ; while that on the part of the Ameri- 
cans, did not exceed three hundred and fifty, or four hundred 
men. Among the killed, on the side of the Americans, mav 
be enumerated. Colonels Colburn and Adams. 

Each army claimed the victory, and each believed itself to 
have beaten, with only part of its force, nearly the whole of the 
other side. In a conflict which lasted nearly half of the day, 
the Americans were fully equal to the enemy. In every quar- 
ter they had been the assailants, and after the longest and 
severest conflict which had been fought since the commence- 
ment of the war, they had not lost a foot of ground. They 



208 UISTORY OF THE 

had not been driven from the field, but withdrew at the close of 
the day to their camp. Tlieir object, which had been to check 
the enemy advancing upon them, was accomplished, in the 
present state of thini^s, to fight without being beaten on their part, 
was almost equal to victory ; wl)ile on the part of the enemy, 
to fight without gaining, was almost tantamount to a defeat. 
The Indians, who found themselves vanquished in the woods 
by Colonel Morgan's riflemen, and restrained by General Bur- 
goyne in scalping and plundering the unarmed ; and who saw 
before them the prospect of a great deal of hard fighting, with- 
out much profit, grew tired of the service, and deserted in great 
numbers. Tlie Canadians, who had been dragged out against 
their inclination, and the provincials who had volunteered their 
services against (heir country, were not much more faithful; 
and it was soon p- rceived, that the hopes of the British general 
must rest almost entirely on his European troops. 

With n)uch reason, therefore, this action was celebrated 
throughout the United States as a victor^', and considered as 
the forerunner of tlie utter ruin of the British army. 

Every where the militia vyere stimulated to arms and to 
action, in order to finish the work already begun. 

The next day intelligence was received from the north, whicl* 
tended still further to raise the spirits of the army. It has al- 
ready been mentioned, that General Lincoln had been sent to 
form the militia, as they came up from the northwestern parts of 
New England, in the rear of the enemy, and that Mount Inde- 
pendence and Ticonderoga were comprehended in his plan of 
operations. He had assembled a considerable force at Man- 
chester in Vermont, from whence he marched to Pawlet, a small 
village on a river of that name, which falls into Wood Creek ofl' 
Lake Champlain. 

Here, he divided his troops into three parties, of about five 
hundred men each, and detached Colonel Brown at the head 
of one of them to the north end of Lake George, principally to 
relieve a number of prisoners, who were confined there, but 
with orders to push his success, if he should be fortunate, as far 
as prudence would admit. Colonel Johnson, at the head oi" 



SsTATE OF NEW-YOllK. 207 

another party, marched towards Mount independence ; and 
Ctdonel Woodbury, with a third, proceeded to Skeensborough, 
to cover the retreat of both the others. \Vith the residue of 
the militia, General Lincoln set out to join General Gates. 

After marching all night, Colonel Brown arrived about break 
of day, on the north end of the lake, where he fell in with a 
small post, which be carried without opposition. The enemy 
were completely surprised, and he took possession of ]\Iount 
Defiance, Mount Hope, the old French lines, the landing, and 
about two hundred batteaux. One hundred American prison- 
ers were liberated, and two hundred and ninety-three of the 
enemy were captured, with the loss of only three killed and five 
wounded. 

The attempt on Ticonderoga and Mount Independence fail- 
ed. The garrisons refused to surrender, and, when attacked, 
repulsed the assailants. The militia, on their return through 
Lake George with the vessels which they had captured, made 
an attack on Diamond Island, which General Burgoyne, on 
crossing to the Hudson, had made the depot of all the stores col- 
lected at the south end of the lake, that being a place of greater 
security than Fort George, but they were driven away with 
some loss. 

The day after the battle near Stillwater, General Burgoyne, 
who took a position almost within cannon shot of the American 
camp, fortified his right and extended his left to the extremity 
of the river hills, so as to, cover the meadow through which the 
river runs, in which his batteaux and hospital were placed. 
For greater security, two European regiments, and a corps of^ 
provincials, were encamped in the meadow. Immediately after, 
he received a letter from Sir Henry Clinton, informing him, 
that about the twentieth of September, he should attack Fort 
Montgomery. The bearer of the letter was sent back by Ge- 
neral Burgoyne, to Sir Henry Clinton, with information of the 
pressing necessity of the army for aid, and that he should en- 
deavour to wait for it, until the twelfth of October. 

The American army, whose numbers increased daily, con- 
.tinued on its old ground. The right, which extended to the 



208 lilt-lORY OF THE 

river, had been rendered inexpugnable, and llie greatest Indus- 
try was used to strengthen the Iflt. 

Both armies retained their position until the seventh of Oc- 
tober — Burgoyne, in the hope of being relieved by Sir Henry 
Cliiit(tn and Gates, in the hope of growing stronger every day, 
and of rendering the destrurtion ol his enemy more certain. — 
No foraging parties could be made by the British army, with- 
out large det.tchments to cover them. 

In the mean time, General Lincoln, on the twenty-ninth of 
September, joined General Gates, with two thousand militia. 

General Burgoyne was now much apprehensive of increasing 
difficulties and dangers; his own provisions were rapidly de- 
creasing, and large additions were every day made to the Ame- 
rican army. ]n the beginning of October, he ventured on a 
measure, which could no longer be avoided, a diminution of 
the soldiers' rations ; disagreeable as such a measure always i« 
to an army, it was submitted to without murmurs. Things 
remained in this situation, till the seventh of October, and no 
intelligence arrived of the expected assistance from Sir H» nry 
Clinton ; and the time was nearly expired, in which it was pos- 
sible for the army to remain in its present camp or situation.— 
Ko other expedient appeared, but to make a movement of the 
British army, to the left of the Americans. This might serve 
to cover a forage of the army, which was now much distressed 
by scarcity ; to discover whether it was possible to force a pas- 
sag:e if it should be necessarv to advance ; or to ijitimidate the 
Americans, if it should be judged best to retreat. 

On October the seventh, a detachment of the British army, 
consisting of fifteen hundred men, with two howitzers, two twelve- 
pounders and six six-pounders, were put in motion. This de- 
tachment was commanded by General Bmgovne in person, 
aided by Major-generals Phillips and Reidesel, and Brigadier- 
general Fraxer. No better generals, or troops were at tiiat 
time lo be found in the British service. The defence of the 
camp, on the high grounds, was assigned to Brigadier-generals 
Hamihon and Speight ; and that of tiie redoubts and plain, 
uear the river, to Brigadier general Gall, ^he force of the 



J STATE OF NEW-YORK. 209 

Americans, in the front, was supposed lo be so much superior 
that it was not judged safe to augment tlie detachment to a 
greater number. The right wing of the British army w;is form- 
ed within three-quarters of a n)ile of the left of the Aujerican 
camp ; and a corps of rangers, provincials and Indians, was push- 
ed on through secret paths, to appear as a check on their rear. 
General Gates soon received intelligence of the march of the 
royal army, and immediately put his troops in motion. About 
four o'clock in the afternoon, the American column approached 
the royal detachment, and was fired upon by the twelve and 
six-pounders. Disregarding the fire, they drew up along the 
skirts of the wood, amidst the trees, about two hundred yards 
distant from the British artillery. No sooner were they formed 
than they made a very sudden and rapid attack upon the British 
grenadiers, who were posted to support the left wing of the line. 
Major Ackland, at the head of the grenadiers, sustained this 
impetuous assault with great resolution ; but more regiments 
arriving, the Americans extended their attack along the whole 
front of the Germans, who were posted immediately on the 
right of the British grenadiers. In this situation it became 
impossible to move any part of the German troops, to form 
a second line, to support the flank ; where the weight of the 
fire became irresistible. 

In th^mean time. General Arnold pressed hard on the right, 
under Burgoyne, which, with great difiiculty, and with the loss 
of the field-pieces, and a great part of the artillery corps, made 
good its retreat lo the camp. The Americans followed close 
in their rear, and under a tremendous fire of grape-shot and 
musketry, assaulted the works throughout their whole extent, 
from right to left. Towards the close, a part of the left 
forced the intrenchments, and General Arnold, with a few men, 
actually entered the works ; but his horse was kilhed under 
him, and he was himself very badly wounded. Those who had 
entered the lines with him, were forced out of them ; and it 
being now nearly dark, they desisted from the attack. 

The left of Arnold's detachment, under the command of 
Lieutenant-colonel Brooks, was still more successful, for it 
VOL. in. 27 



2ia lUSTOllY OF THE 

turned the right of tlie enemy's encampment, and stormed t^ 
works occupied by the German reserve. Lieutenant-colonel 
Bre\'man, who commanded in them, was killed, and the works 
were carried with less difficulty than the assailants had expected. 
The orders given by Burgoyne, to recover them, were not ex- 
ecuted, and Brooks maintained the groimd he had gained. 

Darkness, as in the engagement of the nineteenth of October, 
put an end to the action ; and the Americans lay all night 
with their arms in their hands, about half a mile from the lines, 
ready to renew the assault next day. The advantage they had 
now gained was decisive. They had taken several pieces of ar- 
tillery, killed a great number of the enemy, made upwards of 
two hundred prisoners, among whom were several officers of 
distinction ; and penetrated their lines in a part which exposed 
their rear to considerable danger, in this action, the British 
general, Frazer, was mortally wounded. 

In the course of the night Burgoyne changed his position, 
and drew his army into the camp, on the heights, extending 
his rear up the river. This movement extricated him from im- 
minent danger of being attacked with the return of the day. 

General Gates perceiving tha strength of Burgoyne's new 
position, did not deem it advisable to hazard another action, in 
as much as he plainly foresaw it would be impossible for the 
enemy to subsist many days without either defeating his army, 
or effecting their retreat to Lakes George and Champlain, both 
of which, he considered impossible. In order to prevent the 
enemy from retreating, and compel him to surrender, he de- 
taclied a large body of troops to operate on the enemy's rear. 
These crossed the Hudson, and took post on the east side of 
the river, and at the lords. 

This movement compelled Burgoyne again to change his 
position.. To prevent the road in his rear, being entirely clos- 
ed upon him, it was necessary to retire immediately to Sara- 
toga. The retreat was commenced about nine o'clock at night, 
and was effected with the loss of his hospital, containing about 
three hundred sick, and of several batteaux, laden with pro- 
visions and baggage. 



state: of .\E\V-V01iK, 211 

» A heavy rain retarded tlie retreat of the enemy so much, 
that Fish Creek was not crossed until the morning of the tenth. 
On reaching the ground which he had intended to occupy, he 
found a strong corps of the Americans already intrenched on 
the opposite side of the river, prepared to dispute the passage. 

When the rain ceased, General Gates put his army in motion, 
and began the pursuit ; but he was retarded considerably in 
consequence of having to re-build several bridges, while on his 
way, that had been destroyed by the enemy. 

From his camp, at Fish Creeli, Burgoyne detached a com- 
pany of artificers, under a strong escort, consisting of a regi- 
meni of regulars, the marksmen and corps of provincials, to 
repair the road leading to Fort Edward, and re-build the 
bridges, to the end, that he might be enabled to continue his re- 
treat, and thus obviate tlwf alternative of surrendering himself 
and his army. 

The regulars and provincials accompanying the artificers, 
had proceeded but a short way, when the Americans ap- 
peared in force, on tlie heights, on the south side of Fish. Creek, 
and made dispositions which excited the apprehension of an in- 
tention to cross that stream, and attack them. The regulars, 
escorting the artificers, were immediately recalled, and the 
provincials being attacked, (led on the first fire. 

No hope of repairing the road now remained, and of conse- 
quence, it was impossible to move the baggage and artillery of 
the army. 

About the same time, the boats containing the provisions, 
were found so much exposed in the river, the opposite shore of 
which being lined with the Americans, that it was deemed in- 
dispensible, for the safety of the small stock on hand, to land 
and convey it into the camp. 

The British army was now nearly surrounded by a superior 
force. No means remained of extricating it from difficulties 
and dangers which were daily accumulating, other tlian by 
fording the river on the opposite bank, of which a formidable 
body of troops was already posted in order to dispute the pas- 
sage, and then retreat to the heads of Lakes Champlain and 



212 HISTORY OF TiJE 

George, on roads impassable to wagons, vviili an army flushed 
with victor}', pressing on the rear. The desperate condition 
of the affairs of the enemj was fully understood by General 
Gates. He thought it not improbable that Burgoyne, after 
abandoning all his artillery and baggage, might attempt a re- 
treat by night. To deprive the enemy of this last resource, a 
part of the tfoops, on the east side of the Hudson, was ordered 
higlier up to guard the upper fords, and in the event of their 
being attempted, to defend their passage, until the arrival of the 
army. In addition to (his precaution, an intrenched camp, fur- 
nished with artillery, was formed on the high grounds, between 
Forts Edward and George. 

General Gates was not mistaken in supposing that the enemy 
Would resort to this as their last refuge. In a council of gene- 
ral officers, called to deliberate on their situation, the resolution 
was taken to abandon every thing but their arms, and a suffi- 
cient quantity of provisions to support them until they should 
reach Fort George, which might be carried on their backs ; 
and by a forced march in the night, up the Hudson, to extricate 
themselves from their perilous condition. 

This desperate resolution being taken, scouts were sent out 
to examine the route, who returned with information that those 
fords were already guarded by strong bodies of Americans. 
This plan of retreating was, therefore, abandoned as impracti- 
cable. 

General Burgoyne Caused an account to be made of the pro- 
visions on hand, when il was found that only a supply for three 
days remained in store. IMothing could be more hopeless than 
the present condition of the British army. 

A treaty was opened by Burgoyne with General Gates, stating 
a willingness to spare the further effusion of blood, provided a 
negoiielion could be effected on honourable terms. 

This proposition was answered, by a demand on the part of 
General Gates, that the whole array should ground their arms 
in their encampment, and surrender themselves prisoners of 
war. This demand was rejected, with a declaration, that If 
fJeoeral Gates designed to insist on it, the negotiation must im- 



■^ 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 21i) 

inediately break off, and hostilities recommence. On receiving 
this decided answer, the rigorous terms proposed were rescind- 
ed, and a convention was signed, by which it was agreed, that 
the British army, after marching out of their encampment with 
all the honours of war, should lay down their arms, and not 
serve against the United States, until exchanged. They were 
allosved to proceed directly to the sea-coast, where they era- 
barked for Great Britain. 

The following sketch is taken from the memoirs of General 
Wilkinson, who was then an aid to General Gates. It shows 
the positions of the American and British armies, and may be 
read to advantage with the preceding, in as much as it gives 
ideas and views not elsewhere to be found. 

"On the eighteenth of September, General Burgoyne moved 
his army forward, and encamped in two lines, about two miles 
from General Gates ; his left on the Hudson, and Jiis right ex- 
tending at right angles to it, across the low grounds, about six 
hundred yards, to a range of steep and lofty heights, occupied 
by his elite, having a creek or gully in his front, made by a 
rivulet, which issued from a great ravine formed by the hills, 
which ran in a direction nearly parallel to the river, until within 
half a mile of the American camp. 

*' General Gates' right occupied the brow of the hill near the 
Hudson, with which it was connected by a deep intrcnchment ; 
his camp, in the form of a sedgement of a great circle, the convex 
towards the enemy, extended rather obliquely to his rear, about 
three-fourths of a mile, to a knoll occupied by his left ; his front 
was covered from the right to the left of the centre by a sharp 
ravine, running parallel with his line, and closely wooded ; 
from thence to the knoll at his extreme left, the ground was 
level and had been partially cleared, some of the trees being 
felled and others girdled, beyond which, in front of his left 
flank, and extending to the enemy's right, there were several 
small fields in very imperfect cultivation, the surface broken 
and obstructed vvith stumps and fallen timber, and the whole 
bounded on the west by a steep eminence. The extremities of 
this camp were defended by strong batteries, and the interval 



i^l4 HISTORY OF THE . 

was strengthened by a breast-work, without intrenchments, corir 
structed of the bodies of felled trees, Jogs, and rails, with an 
additional battery at an opening on the left of the centre. 
The right was almost impracticable, the left difficult of ap- 
proach.'' 

Wilkinson describes the defences of this position, as they ap- 
peared about the fourth of October. 

" The intermediate space between the adverse armies on the 
low grounds of the river, was open and in cultivation ; the high 
land was clothed in its native woods, with the exception of three 
or four small, newly opened and deserted farms, separated by 
intervals of woodland, and bordering on the flanks of the two 
armies most remote from the river ; the principal of these was 
an oblong field, belonging to a person of tlie name of Freeman ; 
there was also, exclusive of the ravines fronting the respective 
camps, a third ravine, about midway between them, running at 
right angles to tiae river. The intervening forest rendered it 
utterly impracticable to obtain a front view of the American 
position, or any part of the British, except its left, near the 
jfiver. 

" The first battle was accidental — neither of the generals 
meditated an attack at the time ; Burgoyne's movement being 
merely to take ground on the heights in front of the great ra- 
vine, to give his several corps their proper places in line, to 
embrace our front and cover his transports, stores, provisions, 
and baggage in the rear of his left ; and on our side, the de- 
fences of our camp being not half completed, and reinforce- 
ments daily arriving, it was not General Gates' policy to court 
an action. The misconception of the adverse chiefs confined 
them to the ground they casually occupied at the beginning of 
the action, and prevented a single manoeuvre during one of the 
longest, warmest, and most obstinate battles fought in America* 
General Gates believed that his antagonist intended to attack 
him, and circumstances seemed to justify the like conclusion 
on the part of General Burgoyne ; and as the thickness and 
depth of the intervening woods concealed the position and 
movements of either army from its adversary, sound caution 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 21 S 

obliged the respective commanders to guard every assailable 
point ; thus the flower of the British army, the grenadiers and 
light infantry, one thousand five hundred strong, were posted 
on an eminence to cover its right, and stood by their arms, iq- 
active spectators of the conflict, until near sunset; while Gene- 
ral Gates was obliged to keep his right wing on post, to pre- 
vent the enemy from forcing that flank by the plain bordering 
on the Hudson. Had either of the generals been properly ap- 
prised of the dispositions of his antagonist, a serious blow might 
have been struck on our left, or on the enemy's right ; but, al- 
though nothing is more common, it is as illiberal as it is unjust, 
to determine the merits of military operations by events ex- 
clusively. It was not without experience, that the Romans 
erected temples to Fortune. Later times might aflbrd motives 
for edifices, in which genius or wisdom would have no votaries. 
'* The theatre of action was such, that although the combatants 
ehanged ground a dozen times in the course of the day, the con- 
test terminated on the spot where it began. This may be explain- 
ed in a few words. The British line was formed on an eminence 
in a thin pine wood, having before it Freeman's farm, an ob- 
long field, stretching from the centre towards its right, the 
ground in front sloping gently down to the verge of this field, 
which was bordering on the opposite side by a close wood ; the 
sanguinary scene lay in the cleared ground, between the emi- 
nence occupied by the enemy and the wood just described ; the 
fire of our marksmen was too deadly to be withstood by the 
enemy in line, and when they gave way and broke, our men rush- 
ing from their covert, pursued them to the eminence, v*'here, 
having their flanks protected, they rallied, and charging in 
turn, drove us back into the wood, from whence a dreadful fire 
would again force them to fall back ; and in this manner did 
the battle fluctuate, like the viaves of a stormy sea, with alter- 
nate advantage, for four hours, without one moment's inter* 
missioQ. The British artillery fell into our possession at every 
charge, but we could neither turn the pieces upon the enemy, 
nor bring them oflf; the wood prevented the last, and the want 
of a match the first, as the lint-stock was invariably parried offj 



216 HISTORY OF THE 

and the rapidity of the transitions did not allow us time to pro- 
vide one. It was truly a gallant conflict, in which death, by 
familiarity, lost his terrors, and certainly a drawn battle, as 
night alone terminated it." 

In the mean time, while the Americans were engaged with 
the army of Burgoyne, Sir Henry Clinton, the commander of 
all the British forces in America, was not idle. On the fourth 
of October, he embarked, at New-York, with upwards of three 
thousand men, and sailing up the Hudson, landed at Ver- 
planck's Point, on the east side of that river, on the next day. 
General Putnam, who commanded at this place, retired with- 
out delay to the heights in rear of that place. On the evening 
of the same day, a part of the troops re-embarked, and the 
fleet moved up the river to Peekskill Neck, in order to mask 
King's Ferry, which was then below them. This is a commo- 
dious landing-place, not far above which the mountains, deno- 
minated the Highlands, commence with steep and almost in- 
accessible declivities, to the water's edge. The next morning, 
at dawn of day, the troops destined for the enterprise, debarked 
on the west side of Stoney Point, and immediately began their 
march through the mountains, into the rear of Forts Clinton 
and Montgomery. The debarkation was not made without 
being observed by the Americans ; but the morning was so 
very foggy, that the numbers could not be ascertained ; and a 
large fire, which was afterwards perceived at the landing-place, 
led to the opinion, that a party had only gone on shore to burn 
some store-houses which had been erected there. Meanwhile 
the manoeuvres of the vessels, and the appearance of the small 
detachment left at Verplanck's Point, induced General Putnam 
to believe that the meditated attack was on Fort Independence. 
To this object his attention was directed, and it was not until 
the heavy firing from the other side of the river, announced to 
him the assault on Forts Clinton and Montgomery, that the 
real views of the enemy were disclosed. He immediately de- 
tached five hundred men to reinforce the garrisons of those 
forts, but before these could cross the river, the works had been 
stormed, and were in possession of the British. 



STATE OF NEW'YORK. 217 

The enemy, having left a batiulion at the pass of Dunder- 
burg, to keep up a cbnimunication wilh the llect, and cover 
his retreat, in case of misfortune, continued his march to the 
neiglibourhood of Fort Clinton. There they separated, and 
Colonel Campbell, with nine hundred men, made a circuit 
round the forest of Deane, to fall on the back of Fort Mont- 
gomery, while General Vaughan, with twelve hundred men, 
accompanied by Sir Henry Clinton, and followed by the rear- 
guard, under General Tryon, advanced against Fort Clinton. 

Governor Clinton, who commanded in the forts, made dispo- 
sitions to oppose the enemy, by sending out parties to harass 
him in his march, but these soon gave way and returned. The 
garrisons when summoned, having refused to surrender, the at- 
tack commenced at about five on both forts. The works were 
defended with resolution, and were maintained until dark, when 
the enemy entered them in different places ; and the defence 
being no longer possible, part of the garrison were made pri- 
soners, while the rest escaped. General James Clinton, although 
wounded, made his escape. Lieutenant-colonels Livingston 
and, Bray, and Majors Logan and Hamilton were among the 
prisoners. The loss sustained by the garrisons \Vas about two 
hundred and fifty men. That of the enemy was supposed to 
be greater, but Sir Henry Clinton, in his official letter, states 
it at less than two hundred killed, wounded, and missing. 
Among the former were Lieutenant-colonel Campbell, and two 
other field officers. 

By the capture of Forts Montgomery and Clinton, it became 
apparent that the object of the enemy was to destroy the stores 
at Peekskill, seize the posts in the mountains, and destroy the 
line of communication between the eastern and middle states. 
Peekskill had always been an object of the first importance to 
the Americans. Great pains had been taken to render this 
position, which is naturally very strong, still stronger. The de- 
fences most relied on were Forts Montgomery and Clinton, on 
the west bank of the Hudson, on high ground, very difficufl ©f 
access, and separated from each other by a small stream. 
These forts were too much elevated to be battered from the 
VOL. iir. 28 



218 HISTORY OF THE 

water with eflect, and the hills on which they were erected, tao 
sleep to be ascended hy troops landing at the foot of them ; 
and the mountains, which commence five or six miles below 
them, are so very lofty and rugged, and the defiles so narrow) 
that the approaches to them are easily defended. 

To prevent the enemy from passing these forts with his ship- 
ping, chevaux-de frise had been sunk in the river, and a boom 
extended from bank to bank. This boom was covered with 
large chains, stretched at some distance in its front, for the 
purpose of breaking the force of any vessel sailing against it. 
These works were not only defended by the guns of the fort, 
but by a frigate and several galleys stationed above them. 
Fort Independence is four or five miles below Forts Montgo- 
mery and Clinton, on the east side of the Hudson, on a high 
point of land, and Fort Constitution is about six miles above 
them, on an island near the eastern shore. 

The officer commanding at the station, which comprehended 
the whole extent of the Hudson, from Kingsbridge, northwardly 
to Albany, usually had his head-quarters at Feekskill, just be- 
low Fort Independence, and on the same side of the river. 
General Putnam at this time commanded the station of the 
Hudson, with two thousand men, exclusive of some militia. 
Thpse forces, although not competent for all the posts on the 
Hudson station, would, had a proper disposition been made of 
them, been abundantly competent to the defence of the forts, 
against any number which the enemy could bring from New- 
York. But this was not done by General Putnam, who seems 
to have been at a loss how to act. 

The boom and chains across the Hudson were taken, with 
the Forts Montgomery and Clinton, and the frigates and gal- 
leys were burnt, to prevent their falling into the hands of the 
enemy.' 

As soon as Governor Clinton joined General Putnam, it was 
resolved not to attempt the defence of Peekskill, but to remove 
as many of the stores as possible, and retire further up the 
river. 

Forts Independence and Constitution were evacuated the 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 219 

next day, and Putnam and Clinton retreated to Fishkill. The 
same measures had been taken at Fort Constitution as at Forts 
Montgomery and Clinton, by sinking impediments in the river, 
and by stretching chains across it to prevent the vessels of the 
enemy from ascending ; but they were all abandoned, without 
an attempt to defend them. After burning Continental Vil- 
lage, where stores to a large amount had been collected, Gene- 
ral Vaughan, with a detachment, proceeded up the river as far 
as Kingston, in the county of Ulster, which he also destroyed. 

General Putnam, whose army was soon augmented by the 
militia of New-York, Connecticut, and New-Jersey, to six 
thousand men, detached General Parsons, with two thousand, 
to regain possession of Peekskill and the passes in the High- 
lands. 

General Gates, on receiving intelligence of the capture of 
Fort Montgomery, and other posts on the Hudson, and of the 
retreat of General Putnam and Governor Clinton, sent five 
thousand men to their assistance. But, before their arrival, 
General Vaughan had decamped from Kingston, and descended 
the Hudson to New-York, destroying in his way all the forts. 

The military stores which fell into the enemy's hands were 
yery considerable. The Highlands having been deemed a 
position, which more than any other, united the advantages of 
convenience and security, magazines to a large amount hlid 
been collected there. But these were nearly all destroyed by 
the enemy in a few days, and without meeting with much op- 
position. 

Though the losses of the United States were great, very 
little benefit accrued to the enemy. The enterprise was under- 
taken at too late a period to save Burgoyne and his army ; and 
although the enemy acquired the passes of the Highlands, they 
were unable to hold them. They had reduced to ashes, every 
village, and almost every dwelling-house along the river ; but 
this wanton destruction served rather to inflame than to subdue. 
The fate of Burgoyne was in a measure decided, by the bat- 
tle on the nineteenth of September. The issue of that battle, 
demonstrated to both armies, that the continental troops, un- 



220 HISTORY OF Tilt 

der Generaf Gates, were more than equal to him in the field.j 
and it was not difficult to foresee, that New England, more 
populous, more united, more zealous, and better armed than 
the middle and southern states, would pour lorth such aux- 
iliary forces, as would be irresistible. That Jiurgoyne did 
not relinquish the enterprise as desperate, and fall back on Ti- 
conderoga and Crown Point, is perhaps the only error com- 
mitted by Ijini. Ill the affair of Bennington, there was more 
of fortune than of bad judgment. The presence of General 
Stark at the latter place, with the New Hampsliire militia, was 
adventitious. This circumstance, which prevented the success 
if the expedition against the magazines, and destroyed the party, 
was prepari d by no previous arrangement. Without the New 
Hirnpshire miUtia, Colonel Warner, vvitli three hundred conti- 
nentals, would have been unable to have prevented the destruc- 
tion of the stores. 

The army of Burgoyne, when it set out from Ticonderoga, 
amounted to ten thousand men. The whole number which 
surrendered at Saratoga, was five thousand seven hundred and 
fifty-two. By the surrender, the Americans acquired a fine 
train of artillery, seven thousand stand of arms, and clothing for 
seven thousand men, besides other military stores. The defeat 
and capture of this army may be ranked among the most 
splendid achievements of the revolution. The universal joy 
which it produced in America was extreme. IMany imagined 
the contest nearly at an end. The French court, soon after 
hearing of the event, acknowledged the Independence of the 
United States, and entered into a formal treaty. 

The thanks of Congress were voted to General Gates and 
his army. Colonel Wilkinson, the Adjutant-general in the 
northern department, was appointed a Brigadier-general. 

The Congress directed, that General Putnam should join 
Washington, with two thousand five hundred men ; and that 
General Gates should take the command of the army on the 
Hudson station, with unlimited powers to call for aids of mili- 
tia, from the New England states, and from the states of New- 
York and New-Jersey. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 221 

The loss of the army under Burgoyne, disabled the enemy 
from detaining Ticonderoga, Mount Independence and Crown 
Point. After destroying tliese fortresses, and the heavy stores 
colieqted at them, the garrisons retired to Isle Aux Noix, and 
St. Johns. 

The effects produced by these events on the British cabinet, 
were great. It began to doubt whether the colonies would be 
subdued. Parhament met on the 20th of November, and, as 
usual, an addxess was proposed, in answer to the speech of his 
Majesty, approving the conduct of the administration. The 
Earl ot" Chatham moved to amend the address, by introducing 
a clause recommending to his Majesty a cessation of hostilities, 
and the commencement of a treaty of conciliation, "to restore 
peace and liberty to America, strength and happiness to Eng- 
land, security and prosperity to both cuintries." In the course 
of his observations in support of his motion, he s^id, "but my 
lords, who is the man, that in addition to the disgraces and mis- 
chiefs of war, has dared to authorize and associate to our arms, 
the tommahawk and scalping knife of the savage ,'' to call into 
civilized alliance, the wild and inhuman inhabitants of the 
woods ? to delegate to the merciless Indian, the defence of dis- 
puted rights, and to wage the horrors of his barbarous warfare 
against our brethren ? my lords, these enormities cry aloud for 
redress and punishment. Unless thoroughly done away, it 
will be a stain on the national character. It is not the least of 
our naiioaal misfortunes, that the strength and character of our 
army are impaired. Familiarised to the horrid scenes of savage 
cruelty, it can no longer boast of the noble and generous prin- 
ciples which dignify a soldier. No longer can you sympathize 
with the dignity of the royal banner, nor feel the pride, pomp, 
and circumstance of glorious war, that makes ambition virtue. 
"What makes ambition virtue ? the sense of honour. But is 
this sense of honour consistent with the spirit of plunder, or 
the practice of murder ? can it flow from mercenary motives, 
or can it prompt to cruel deeds .'"' 

The conduct of the administration, however, received the ap- 
probation of large xnajorities, in both houses. The disaster of 



222 HISTORY OF THE 

Burgoyne was soon known, and the mortification which it occa- 
sioned, was excessively great. A reluctant confession of the 
calamity was made known in Parliament, and a desire to restore 
peace, on any terms short of the dismemberment of the empire, 
found its way into the cabinet of St. James. 

But to return to the campaign in the middle states. Soon 
after Sir William Howe had landed his troops in Maryland, he 
issued a declaration to the inhabitants. In this he informed 
them, that he should keep the strictest order among his troops, 
and that the most exemplary punishment should be inflicted 
upon those who should dare to plunder the property, or molest 
the persons of any of his Majesty' s**well disposed subjects. 

The royal army, amounting to sixteen thousand men, set out 
from the eastern heads of the Chesapeake, on the third of Sep- 
tember, with a spirit which promised to compensate for the va- 
rious delays which had hitherto wasted the campaign in this 
quarter. They advanced with boldness, till they were within 
two miles of the American army, which was posted at Newtown. 
Washington soon changed his position, and took post on thef 
high ground near Chadd's Ford, on the Brandywine Creek, 
with an intention of disputing the passage. It was the wish, 
but by no means the interest, of the Americans to try their 
strength in an engagement. Their regular troops were not 
only greatly inferior in discipline, but in numbers, to the royal 
army. The opinion of the inhabitants, though founded on no 
circumstances more substantial than their wishes, imposed a 
species of necessity on Washington to keep his army in front of 
tJie enemy, and to risk an action for the security of Philadel- 
phia. Instead of this, had he taken the ridge of mountains on 
his right, the British must have respected his numbers, and 
probably would have followed him up the country. In this 
manner the campaign might have been wasted away, in a mea- 
sure fatal to the invaders ; but the bulk of the American people 
were so impatient of delays, and had such a conceit of the num- 
bers and prowess of their army, that they could not compre- 
hend the wisdom and policy of manoeuvres ta shun a general 
engagement. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 223 

On this occasion necessity dictated, that a sacrifice should be 
made on the altar of public opinion. A general action was 
therefore hazarded on the eleventh of September. This took 
place at Chadd's Ford, on the Brandywine, a small stream that 
empties itself into Christina Creek, near its conflux with the 
Delaware. 

The British army advanced, at day-break, in two columns, 
commanded by General Knyphausen and Lord Cornwallis. 
The first took the direct road to Chadd's Ford, and made a 
show of passing it, in front of the main body of the Americans; 
at the same time the other column moved upon the west side of 
the Brandywine to its forks, and crossed both its branches, 
about two o'clock in the afternoon, and marched down on the 
east side, with the view of turning the right wing of the Ameri- 
cans. This they effected, and compelled them to retreat with 
great loss. General Knyphausen amused the Americans with 
the appearance of crossmg the ford, but did not attempt it, until 
Lord Cornwallis, having crossed above and moved down on" 
the opposite side, had commenced the attack. Knyphausen 
then crossed the ford, and attacked the troops posted for its de- 
fence. These,. after a severe conflict, were compelled to give 
way. The retreat of the Americans soon became general, and 
was continued to Chester. The final issue of battles often de- 
pends on small circumstances, which no human prudence can 
control. One of these occurred here, and prevented Washing-^ 
ton from executing a bold design, to effect which his troops 
were actually in motion. This was, to have crossed the Bran- 
dywine, and attacked Knyphausen, while General Sullivan and 
Lord Stirling should keep Cornwallis in check. In the most 
critical ttioment, Washington received intelligence that the 
column of Lord Cornwallis had been only making a feint, and 
was returning to join Knyphausen. This prevented the exe- 
cution of a plan, which, if it had been carried into effect, 
would probably have given a different turn to the events of 
the day. The killed and wounded in th£ royal army were 
near six hundred ; the loss of the Americans was twice that 
number. 



224 HISTORY OF THE 

Howe, after the battle of Brandywine, persevered in his 
scheme of gaining the right flank of the Americans, which 
Washington as steadily endeavoured to avoid. A few days 
afterwards, Washington came forward as far as the Warren 
Taveru, on the Lancaster road, with a resolution of risking 
another battle. Near that place, both armies were on the point 
of engaging with their whole force, but were prevented by a 
violent storm of rain, which c; ntinued a whole day and night. 
When the rain ceased, the Americans, in consequence of their 
ammunition being wet, withdrew. The British marched from 
their posiiion down towards the Swedes Ford. The Americans 
again took post in their front, but the British, instead of en- 
gaging them, began to march toward? Reading. To save the 
stores that had been deposited in that place, Washington took 
a new position, and left the British in possession of the roads 
which led to Philadelphia. About this time, the Americans 
sustained a considerable loss, by a night attack, conducted by 
General Grey, on a detachment of their troops which was en- 
camped near the Paoli Tavern. The outposts and pickets 
were forced without noise. The men had scarcely time to turn 
out, and when they had turned out, they unfortunately paraded 
in the light of their fires; this directed the British how and 
where to proceed ; they rushed in upon them, and put about 
three hundred of them to death in a silent manner, by a free 
and exclusive use ol the bayonet. The enterprise was con- 
ducted with so much address, that the loss of the assailants did 
not exceed eight. 

The bulk of the British army being left in Gerraantown, Sir 
William Howe, on the twenty-sixth of September, with a small 
part, made his entry into Philadelphia. The possession of the 
largest city in the United States, was reckoned by the enemy 
as a measure preparatory to ending the war. 

One of the first objects of the British, after they had got pos- 
session of Philadelphia, was to erect batteries, to command the 
river, and to protect the city from any insult by water. The 
British shipping were prevented from ascending the Delaware^ 
by obstructions which were fixed near Mud Island. 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 225 

Washington having been reinforced by two thousand five 
hundred men, from Peekskill and Virginia, and having been 
informed that Howe had detached a considerable part of his 
force for reducing the forts on the Delaware, conceived the de- 
sign of attacking the British post at Germantown. Their hne 
of encampment crossed the town at right angles, near the cen- 
tre ; the left wing extended to the Schuylkill, and was covered 
in front by the mounted and dismounted chasseurs. The 
Queen's American rangers, and a battalion of infantry, were in 
front of the right. The fortieth regiment, with another battali- 
on of infantry, were posted on the Chestnut Hill road, three- 
quarters of a mile in advance. Lord Cornvrallis lay at Phila- 
delphia, with four battahons of grenadiers. A few of the ge- 
neral officers of the American army, whose advice was request- 
ed, recommended an attack ; and it was agreed that it should 
be made at different places, to produce the greater confusion, 
and to prevent the spvera> parts of the British forces from af^ 
fording support to each other. From an apprehension that 
the Americans, from a want of discipline, would not persevere 
in a long attack, it was resolved, that it should be sudden and 
vigorous, and if unsuccessful, to make an expeditious retreat. 
The divisions of Sullivan and Wayne, flanked by Conway's bri- 
gade, were to enter the town by the way of Chestnut Hill, while 
General Armstrong, with the Pennsylvania militia, should fall 
down the Manatawny road, and gain the left and rear of the 
British. The divisions of Greene and Stephens, flanked by 
M'Dougal's brigade, were to enter by the Lime Kiln road. — 
The militia of Maryland and New-Jersey, under Generals 
Smallwood and Furman, were to march by the Old York 
road, and fall on the rear of the right. Lord Sterling, with 
Nashe's and Maxwell's brigades, were to form the reserve. 

The Americans began their attack about sun-rise, on the 
fortieth regiment, and a battalion of infantry. These corps 
being obliged to retreat, were pursued into the village. On 
their retreat, Colonel Musgrove, with six companies, took post 
in Mr. Chew's strong stone house, which lay in front of the 
Americans. From an adherence to the military maxim, of 

VOL. JIT. 29 



226 HISTORY OF THE 

never leaving a fort possessed by an enemy, in the rear, it was 
resolved to attack the party in the house. 

In the mean time, General Greene got up with his column, 
and attacked the right wing. Colonel Matthews routed a party 
of the British opposed to him, killed several, and took one 
hundred and ten prisoners, but from the darkness of the day, 
lost sight of the brigade to which he belonged, and having 
separated from it, was made prisoner with his whole regiment, 
and the prisoners whom he had previously taken, were released. 
A number of the troops in Greene's division, were stopped by 
the halt of the party before Chew's house. Near one-half of 
the American army remained, for some time, at that place, inac- 
tive. JVIean while General Grey led on three battalions, and 
attacked with vigour, when a sharp contest ensued. Two Bri- 
tish regiments attacked at the same time, on the opposite side 
of the town. General Grant moved up to the aid of those who 
were engaged with Greene. 

The morning was extremely foggy. This, by concealing the 
true situation of the parties, occasioned mistakes, and made so 
much caution necessary, as to give the British time to recover 
from the effects of their first surprise. From these causes, the 
early promising appearances on the part of the assailants, were 
speedily reversed. The Americans left the field hastily, and 
all efforts to rally them were ineffectual. Lord Cornwallis 
arrived with a party of horse, and joined in the pursuit. The 
loss of the royal army, including prisoners, was about five 
hundred. The loss of the Americans, including four hundred 
prisoners, was about one thousand. 

Soon after this battle, the British left Germantown, and 
turned their principal attention towards opening a communica- 
tion between their army and shipping. 

Much industry and ingenuity had been exerted by the Ameri- 
cans for the security of Philadelphia, on the water side. Thir- 
teen galleys, two floating batteries, two zebeques, one brig and 
one ship, besides a number of armed boats, fire ships and rafts, 
were constructed or employed for this purpose. They had 
also built a fort on Mud Island. This island is admirably 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 227 

biluated for the erection of works, to annoy shipping in their 
way up the Delaware. It lies near the middle of the river, 
and ai)out seven miles below Philadelphia. No vessel of 
burthen can come up but by the main channel, which passes 
close by the island. Opposite to Mud Island, there is a height 
called Red Bank ; this overlooks the river ; on this height a 
battery was erected. Two ranges of chevaux-de-frise were 
sunk into the channel, about three hundred yards below the 
fort on Mud Island. The only open passage left, was close to 
the fort, and that was secured by a strong boom. Another 
fortification was erected on a high bank, on the New-Jersey 
side of the shore ; and opposite to this, another range of chev- 
aux-de-frise was deposited, leaving only a narrow and shoal 
channel on the one side. 

The British were well apprised that without the command of 
the river, their possession of Philadelphia would be of no ad- 
vantage. Lord Howe had early taken effectual measures for 
conducting the fleet and transports round from the Chesapeake 
to the Delaware, and drew them up on the Pennsylvania side of 
the shore, from Reedy Island to Newcastle. 

Early in October, a detachment from the British army cross- 
ed the Delaware, with a view of dislodging the Americans from 
Billingsport. On their approach the place was evacuated. 
Batteries soon after were erected on the Pennsylvania side, to 
assist in dislodging the Americans from Mud Bank. At the 
same time Count Donop, with two thousand men, having cross- 
ed into New-Jersey, marched down on the eastern side of the 
river, to attack the redoubt at Red Bank, which was defended 
by four hundred men under Colonel Greene. The attack 
immediately commenced by a smart cannonade, under cover of 
which Count Donop advanced to the redoubt. The garrison 
kept up a severe fire on the assailants, by which they were 
compelled to retire with the loss of their commander, and four 
hundred men. An attack made about the same time on Mud 
Island, by men-of-war and frigates, was equally unsuccessful. 
The Augusta, of sixty four guns, and the Martin, got aground. 
The former was fired and blew up ; the latter was abandoned. 



228 HISTORY OF THE 

Though the first attempt for opening the navigation of the 
Delaware was unsuccessful, the British carried their point in 
another way that was unexpected. 

The chevaax-de-frise having been sunk some time, the cur- 
rent of the water was diverted in new channels ; in consequence 
thereof, the passage between the islands and the Pennsylvania 
shore, was so deepened, as to admit vessels of considerable bur- 
den. Through this passage, the Vigilant, mounted with twen- 
ty-four-pounders, made her way to a position from which she 
was enabled to enfilade the works on Mud Island. This gave 
the British such an advantage, that the island was no longer 
tenable. Colonel Smith, the commander of the fort, was 
wounded, and within five days after, Major Thayer, his suc- 
cessor, was obliged to evacuate it. 

The troops who had so bravely defended Mud Island, made a 
safe retreat to Red Bank. Within three days after Mud Island 
was evacuated — the garrison was also withdrawn from Red 
Bank, on the approach of Lord Cornwallis. Thus the British 
gained a free communication between their army and shipping- 
They had been previously obliged to draw their provisions 
from Chester, a distance of sixteen miles, at some risk. The 
protracted defence of the Delaware, in a measure, deranged the 
plans of the British, for the remainder of the campaign in this 
quarter. 

General Howe anticipating that the Americans would attempt 
to retake Red Bank in the Delaware, below Philadelphia, 
ordered it to be evacuated. 

On the night of the fourth of December, Sir William Howe 
marched out of Philadelphia with his army, and encamped on 
Chestnut Hill, in front of the right wing of the American army, 
under Washington. A slight skirmish ensued between the 
Pennsylvania militia under General Irvine, and the advance 
of the enemy, in which that general was wounded, and taken 
prisoner, and the militia, with very little other loss, were dis- 
persed. 

The enemy, in the course of the night, changed their ground, 
and moving to the right, took post within a mile of the Ameri- 



STATE OF NEVV-YORK. 229 

can left. A general engagement was now believed feeitaln. 
Washington ordered General Gist, with the Maryland niiluia, 
and Colonel Morgan, with his riflemen, to attack their tlank 
and advanced parties. A sharp action ensued, in which Gist 
and Morgan were compelled to fall back. General Howe 
shortly after returned to Philadelphia. 

The season was now becoming extremely severe, and it was 
impossible, with an army not half clothed, and with a very ina- 
dequate supply of blankets, any longer to keep the field in tents. 
It was absolutely necessary to put the army in winter quarters. 
To this end Washington decamped, and marched to Valley 
Forge, on the west side of the Schuylkill, twenty-five miles 
from Philadelphia, and encamped. This position was strong 
and commanding. The army immediately set about buildmg 
huts and constructing fortifications ; the one for their con- 
venience, and the other for their defence. 

Washington, in general orders, expressed to the troops his 
approbation of their past conduct, presented them with an 
encouraging state of the future prospects of their country, 
exhorted them to bear with fortitude, hardships, and endea- 
voured to induce them to believe, that they were indispeusible 
for the public good. 

The winter set in with great severity, and the sufferings of 
the army were extreme. These sufferings were somewhat mi- 
tigated, after the erection of the log huts. 

Washington, in the mean while, laboured to cut oft' all com- 
munication between the enemy and the country. His com- 
manding position, in a measure, enabled him to accomplish this. 
General Smallwood, with one division, was detached to Wil- 
mington, to guard that part of the Delaware ; Colonel Mor- 
gan, with his corps of riflemen, was sent to the lines on the 
west side of the Schuylkill ; and General Armstrong, with the 
Pennsylvania militia, was ordered near the Old Camp at 
White Marsh. These prevented the people from carrying 
provisions into Philadelphia. To aid in these duties, Major 
Jameson, with two troops of horse, was directed to guard the 
€ast, and Captain Lee with one, the west side of the Schuyl- 



.^ ' HISTORY OF THE 

kill.' Count Pulaski, with the residue of the cavali-y, was com- 
maiided to repair to Trenton in New-Jersey, and there to act 
according to circumstances. 

While Washington was making these dispositions, in order 
to straiten the enemy in his quarters, he caused a bridge to 
he constructed over the Schuylkill, to facilitate ulterior opera- 
tions. In the course of December, several combats ensued, 
between small parties of the respective armies. 

See Marshall's Life of Washington, Williams' History of Vermont, Wil- 
kinson's Memoirs, and Ramsey's History of the Reyolutiou. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK* 2^1 



CHAPTER VII. 

Suspension of the Colonial Government in 1775 — Provincial Con- 
gress — Its proceedings — Ratification by the Provincial Con- 
gress, of the Declaration of Independence, July 0th, 1776 — 
After the Ratification, the provincial congress styles itself 
the Convention of the State of Neiv-York — Its deliberations 
— Preparations for defence — The British obtain possession of 
Long Island, New-York, &c. — The convention meet at Kings- 
ton and frame a Constitution — Its outlines — State Government 
Organized — First Session of the Legislature, after the adop- 
tion of the Constitution — It meets at Poughkeepsie in 1778 — 
Session in 1779 — The Legislature meet at Albany in 1780^ 
Its deliberations — The Legislature, in 1781, order fifteen 
hundred men to be raised, &c. — Lnactment§ in 1782, &ic. — 
Controversy ivith Vermont resumed. 

This chapter will be devoted to some of the internal affairs of 
the state, and the controversy with Vermont, and will embrace 
the period, from the commencement, to the close of the war. 

The revolution occasioned a suspension of the colonial go*? 
vernment in New-York, On tke twenty-second day of May, 
1775, a provincial congress, composed of delegates from the 
several counties of the province, convened in the city of New- 
York, in order to devise means of defence, and agree upon 
some form of government. Governor Tryon, who was then ill 
the city of New-York, withdrew, and went on board of a British 
sloop of war, lying in the bay. The Congress, so convened, 
after deliberation, recommended to the several counties, to ap- 
point county and town committees. This recommendation was 
complied with forthwith. From that time, to the adoption of 
the state constitution, at Kingston, in the county of Ulster, on 
the twentieth day of April, 1777, the government was adminis^ 



X 



232i HISTORY OF THE 

tered by a provincial congress, aidied by town and county com- 
mitlees. 

Jn August, 1775, the provincial congress re-organized the 
militia of the colony of New-York, and soon after appointed 
officers to command them. On the twenty-eighth of that 
month, the Congress elected General Woodhull their president. 

On the ninth day of July, 1776, the provincial congress met 
again at White Plains, in the county of Westchester, and ratifi- 
ed, on the part of the people of this state, the declaration of in- 
dependence, which had been adopted by the continental con- 
gress of the United States, on the fourth day of July, and imme- 
diately assumed the style of the convention of the people ol' 
the state of New- York, and set about framing a state constitu- 
tion, which was not completed till the twentieth day of April, in 
the year following. 

Previous to the meeting of the provincial congress at White 
Plains, preparations were made to repel the enemy, in case 
he should attempt to invade the state. 

On the twentieth of July, 1776, the convention at White 
Plains ordered large drafts of militia to be made, and to be 
ready for immediate service. In the counties of Westchester, 
New-York, King's, Queen's and Sufiblk, the numbers drafted, 
amounted to one-fourth of the whole. Those of Suffolk, 
Queen's and King's, marched to Brooklyn, early in August, 
where they were placed under the command of General Wood- 
hull. The militia, so ordered out, joined the army of Wash- 
ington. 

The convention convened at Harlaem, on Manhattan Island, 
on the twenty-ninth day of July, in the same year, pursuant to 
adjournment. Here they passed sundry resolutions. 

On the twenty-ninth of August, the convention, in conse- 
quence of the near approach of the enemy, adjourned to meet 
at Fishkill, in the county of Dutchess, on the second day of 
September. 

The enemy, about this time, obtained complete possession of 
the city and county of New-York, and Long Island, and Staten 
Island, which they held to the peace in 1783. 



STATi: OF NEW- YORK. 233 

By an ordinance, passed by the convention who framed the 
slate constitution, it was provided, that that part of the state 
which had fallen into the hands of the enemy, should be repre- 
sented in the senate and assembly, by a proportional number of 
members, selected from those who hud retired from those coun- 
tie's within the American lines. 

The convention that framed the state constitution was com- 
posed of delegates from the counties of New-York, Richmond, 
King's, Queen's, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Ul- 
ster, Albany, Tryon, Charlotte, Cumberland and Gloucester. 
The two latter counties now compose part of the state of 
Vermont. Leonard Gansevoort was elected president. 

The framing of a constitution for the state, and the organi- 
zation of a government under it, wer^ done ia accordance to a 
resolution of the continental congress. The following is a 
transcript of the resolution of that body to the provincial con- 
gress of New-York. 

''Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective assem- 
blies and conventions of the United Colonies, where no go- 
vernment sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs, has been 
hitherto established, to adopt such as shall, in the opinion of 
the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happi- 
ness and safety of their constituents in particular, and America 
in general." jt 1 ^^ ''^ 

The constitutlonf^hich was made and adopted in pursuance 
of the foregoing resolution, vested the supreme legislative 
power in two depositories, the one called the assembly and 
the other the senate, who, together, were to form the legisla- 
ture. These were to meet at least once a-year for the transaction 
of business. The supreme executive power and authority were 
vested in a governor. The assembly was to consist of at least 
seventy members, who were to be chosen by the people every 
year. The senate was to consist of twenty- four members, to 
be elected for four years. The members of the latter body, 
after their election, were to be divided into four classes ; the 
seat of one being to be vacated every year, and its place 
supplied by an annual election of a number, corresponding 
VOL. III. 30 



234 HISTORY OF THE 

with those whose seats were to be thus vacated. The go*^ 
vernor and lieutenant-governor were to be elected for three 
years. The former, by virtue of his office, was to be com- 
mander-in-chief of all the militia, and admiral of the navy of 
the state. He was to have power to convene and prorogue 
the legislature h'om time to time ; and to grant reprieves and 
pardsns to persons convicted of crimes, other than treason and 
murder, in which cases he might suspend the execution of the 
sentence till the same should be reported to the legislature. 
The governor was required to inform the legislature, at every 
session, of the condition of the state ; and to recommend such 
matters to their consideration, as should appear to him, to con- 
cern its welfare, prosperity and good government ; correspond 
with the continental congress, and other states ; transact all 
business with the officers of government, civil and military ; 
and take care that the laws should be faithfully executed. 

The lieutenant-governor was to be president of the senate^ 
and in case of the death, impeachment, removal, resignation or 
absence of the governor, he was to exercise all the powers 
and duties appertaining to governor. 

The appointment of officers, except in a few cases, was 
vested in the governor ; and a council, consisting of four sena- 
tors, to be taken from the four senatorial districts. The senators 
were to be chosen by the assembly every year, and were not to 
be eligible to the council for two years in succession. The go- 
vernor and the four senators were to be denominated the coun-. 
cil of appointment. The governor, for the time being, or the 
lieutenant-governor, when the government should devolve on 
him, was to be the president, and to have a casting voice. All 
officers, both civil and military, except the chancellor and 
judges of the supreme court, and the first judge of every 
county, were to hold their offices during the pleasure of the 
council. The chancellor and judges were to hold their offices 
during good behaviour, or until they should respectively attain 
the age of sixty years. Supervisors, town-clerks, assessors, 
collectors and constables, and all other officers heretofore elect- 
ed by the people, were to be elected as formerly. Delegates 



STATE OF NEW-VORK. 23a 

10 the continental congress, were to be chosen by the senate 
and assembly. — 

The style of all laws was fixed on, and the manner that 
writs, and other processes, were to run in. 

A court for the trial of impeachments and the correction of 
errors, was provided for. Tliis court was to consist of the presi- 
dent of the senate, the chancellor and judges of the supreme 
court and the senators, and was to have appellate jurisdiction 
x)f all causes brought before it from the supreme and chancery 
courts, and was to be the last resort. 

The constitution provided, that such parts of the common 
law of England, and the statute law of England and Gre^t 
Britain, and the acts of the legislature of the colony of New- 
York, as together did form the law of the said colony, on the 
nineteenth day of April, 1775, should be continued the law of 
the state, subject to such alterations and provision as the legis- 
lature should from time to time make. Such parts of the com- 
mon law, and such acts as might be construed to the estab- 
lishment and maintenance of any partrcular denomination of 
christians, or their ministers, or as concerned the allegiance 
yielded to the King of Great Britain, or as were repugnant 
to the constitution, were to be abrogated. 

All grants of land, within the state, made by the King of Great 
Britain, or persons acting under his authority, after the four- 
teenth day of October, 1775, were to be null and void ; and 
all made prior to that day, were to be confirmed. 

The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and 
worship, without discrimination or preference, were to be al- 
lowed in said state, to all mankind. Ministers or priests were 
to be ineligible to office. 

The militia of the state, were at all times, as well in peace 
as in war, to be armed, ofiicered, disciplined, and in readiness 
for service when called on. Magazines of warlike stores were 
to be prepared, and kept at the expense of the state. 

Trial by jury, in all cases in which it had heretofore been 
used In the colony of New-York, Avas to be established, and 
fo remain Inviolable Cor ever. 



236 HTSTORV OF THE 

All new courts were to proceed according to the common 
law; and the legislature were not at any time thereafter to in- 
stitute any new court or courts, but such as should proceed 
conformable to the course prescribed by the common law. 

Aliens, or such persons as were born without the United 
States, were to be naturalized at the discretion of the legisla- 
ture, and in such manner as should be provided from time to 
time. 

Such were the great outlines of the constitution adopted at 
Kingston, on the twentieth day of April, 1777. Its provisions 
in general were ample. It embraced the outlines of a state 
government ; defined the powers and duties of the executive, 
legislative, judicial, and military departments ; prescribed the 
mode of elections, and secured to the citizens their natural and 
unalienable rights. From the adoption of this instrument to 
the present day, the state of New-York has been under the em- 
pire of laws either framed or adopted by representatives elected 
by the spontaneous suffrages of her citizens. These laws, in 
general, have been enacted with wisdom, and in regard to the 
constitution. 

The constitution adopted in [777 was amended in 1801, and 
abrogated in 1823. The present constitution of the state em- 
braces most of the leading outlines of that of 1777 ; but to give 
them at present would be foreign to our subject. The first 
constitution, taking it all in all, with its amendments, was bet- 
ter calculated to secure and protect the rights of the citizens, 
and conduce to the general happiness of the people, than the 
new ; but it is not our province to point out the advantages of 
the one or the defects of the other. 

The provincial congress of New-York had, at a very early 
period of the revolution, adopted, in common with the other 
states, defensive measures. Four regiments of men, besides 
the continental contingent, which consisted of five regiments, 
were levied and equipped as early as the month of May, 1776. , , 
The former were mostly employed in the defence of the city of 
New- York, and the posts on the frontiers. The latter were 
either with Washington, or in Canada with the other continen- 



aiATE OF NEW- YORK. 227 

tal Ibrces. After the defeat of the Americans on Long Island, 
and the evacuation of the city of New- York, and the surrender 
of Fort V\ashington, near Kingsbridge, on Manhattan Island, 
the troops constituting those called the New- York line, or stale 
troops, became so reduced, that it became necessary to con- 
solidate the regiments into two. The great footing the enemy 
had obtained in the state, being completely possessed of live of 
its counties, and these the most populous and wealthy, in a 
measure prevented the filling up of the regiments, and keep- 
ing on fool so extensive an establishment as had been contem- 
plated. 

The garrisons on the frontiers of the counties of Orange, 
Ulster, Albany, and Tryon, during the war, consisted mostly 
of militia, drafted from time to time, the state troops being lo- 
cated at particular places. In the districts most exposed, the 
inhabitants dwelt in garrisons, and cultivated the lands around 
them. This rendered the duty of those doubly severe. Alarms 
were frequent. In some instances, small districts had to be 
abandoned, the inhabitants not being able to defend them ; and 
government was not in a situation to give necessary aids. But 
the particulars in relation to the depredations of the enemy, 
will be found more at large in the succeeding chapter. 

The first session of the legislature, after the adoption of the 
constitution in 1777, was held at Poughkeepsie, in the county 
of Dutchess, in the year 1778. On the sixteenth of March, in 
that year, they passed an act to organize the government of the 
state, according to the mode prescribed by the constitution. 
Several other acts were passed at the same session. 

The second session of the legislature was held at the sam6 
place, in the months of February and March, 1779. At this 
session, as well as at the preceding, measures were adopted for 
the defence of the state, and aids provided for the augmenta- 
tion of the continental armies. This state, like the others, had 
its state troops and its continentals. Tiie latter, however, were 
under the control of Congress, and were commanded by officers 
appointed by that body. 

The third sessicMi of the legislature was held at Kingston, in 



2S3 HISTORY OF THE 

the county of Ulster, in October, 1779. At this session, among 
other laws passed, there was one for the forfeiture and sale of 
the estates of persons who had adhered to the enemy. 

Tli€ fourth session of the legislature was held at the city of 
Albany, in the winter of 1780. Among the laws enacted, there 
was one to facilitate the completion of the articles of confedera- 
tion, and perpetual union among the United States of America. 
The legislature seems to have been induced to the enactment 
of this law, by the recommendation of Congress. Previous to 
this, the Continental Congress had recommended such a mea- 
sure to all the states. To some states the recommendation 
proved acceptable, and to others not. Congress, in addition 
to the recommendation for a union and confederation of all the 
states, desired, that portions of the waste and uncultivated ter- 
ritories should be ceded to the United States, and be at its dis- 
position, in order to create a common fund, to defray the ex- 
penses of the present arduous war. The act now passed by the 
legislature of the state of New-York, besides providing for fa- 
cilitating the completion of a lasting union, gave Congress 
power to limit and restrict the boundaries of this state, in the 
western parts, by such line and in such manner as they should 
judge expedient, either with respect to the jurisdiction, as well 
as the right of pre-emption of soil ; or reserving the jurisdic- 
tion, in part or in whole, over the lands which might be ceded. 
The lands to be thus ceded, were to be and enure for the use 
and benefit of such of the United States as should become 
members of the federal alliance, and for no other use or pur- 
pose. The tract ceded embraces what is now known by the 
name of the Pennsylvania Triangle, and lies west of the county 
of Chateauque. The cession proved of little or no use, and by 
some means came into the possession of the latter state. 

An act for raising five millions of dollars within the slate, 
was passed at the same session. The tenth section of this act 
made special provision for collecting the double taxes charged 
on the lands of persons who had removed within the enemy's 
lines. In 1778, a law had been made, imposing heavy taxes 
en sjLich as left them ?nd removed within the lines of the enemy. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK.^ 2319 

The fourth session of the legislature was held at the city of 
Albany in the winter of 1781. The house, on the twentieth of 
March, enacted, that two regiments, to contain in the aggre- 
gate, fifteen hundred men, in addition to those already in ser- 
vice, should be raided for the defence of the state, and that the 
same should continue in service for three years from their en- 
listment, unless sooner discharged. The officers, by the act, 
were to be appointed by the governor and council. From the 
words of the act it would appear, that the legislature contem- 
plated that these troops should be paid, clothed, subsisted, 
armed and equipped by the United States. The faith of the 
state was pledged to the officers and soldiers, that lands should 
be granted to them as a compensation for their services ; and 
that they should be allowed to locate the same among the lands 
already not appropriated. The troops raised under this act 
were to be subject to the rules and articles of war, established 
for the regulation of the army of the United States, and to be 
under the command ot Washington. These regiments were not 
to serve out of the state, without the orders of the governor. 

The owners of slaves, on delivering one or more to serve in 
the said regiments, were entitled to grants of lands similar to 
those made to the soldiers. Such slaves as were delivered oves 
by their masters, and served till the term expired, were to be 
manumitted. The act contained this singular proviso, that all 
lands granted for services rendered, should be forfeited within 
three years, unless settled. The proviso was well calculated to 
throw all or most of the lands, thus earned by the hard service 
of the soldiers, into the hands of speculators, who could from 
time to time procure the enactment of laws confirmatory of 
their titles, without complying with the original requirements, 
and this, probably, was the object of the more knowing ones 
amongst the enactors. At the time this law was made, nearly 
the whole of the state was covered with woods, only about one 
thirtieth part being improved ; and the greater part of the wild 
lands, situated in the vicinity of the settlements, was already in 
the hands of patentees. Access to the vacant lands was diffi- 
cult. Roads hail to be opened, houses built, and provisions, 



240 HISTUKY OF THE 

till iinprovemeQts were made, and returns had from the earth, 
were to be brought a great distance. Such was the situation 
of the lands, and circumstanced as every thing was, it must 
have been manifest, to persons of moderate discernment, that 
tiie proviso was of such a nature as to work a forfeiture. 

An act enabling the executive to exchange persons applying 
for that purpose, as prisoners of war, for the subjects of the 
slate, in the custody of the enemy, was also made. 

Provision was provided for the troops then in the service of 
the state. The great extent of the frontiers of this state at that 
time, and the smallness of the population, rendered the defence 
extremely difficult, and in some measure impracticable, since 
the enemy could select his points of attack. The Mohawk, 
Schoharie, and Minisink districts, from their remote and border 
situation, were the most exposed ; and in truth, these districts 
were nearly desolated by the frequent inroads made. 

The legislature held their fifth session at Poughkeepsie, in 
the winter of 1782. At this session, as at former sessions, 
provision was made to complete the troops of the line of this 
state, which were in the service of the United States, and also 
to complete the two regiments, which had been levied the pre- 
ceding year on bounties of vacant lands. 

The predatory warfare, carried on by the enemy, imposed 
very heavy military duties on the citizens of tliis state. No 
state belonging to the confederation was so much exposed, and 
no one suffered so many and great losses. The head-quarters 
of all the British armies, were at the city of New- York, and 
had been since the first of September, 1776. 

On the eleventh day of April, in the same year, the legisla- 
ture incorporated a bank, called the bank of North America, 
and enacted, that no other bank should be established in the 
State. This bank was common to all the states, and was in- 
corporated in this state, pursuant to a resolution of Congress, 
made the twenty-sixth day of May, 1781. The following is 
the substance of the resolution : "Resolved that Congress do 
approve of the plan for establishing a national bank, submitted 
to their consideration ; and that they will promote and support 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 241 

tlie same by such ways and means, as will be consistent with 
the public good," k.c. And that it be recommended to the 
several states to provide, that no other bank or banUs be estab- 
lished during the war. That the notes to be issued shall be 
received in payment of taxes, duties, and debts payable to the 
United States. 

Congress also recommended to the several states, to pass 
laws, making the counterfeiting of the bills felony, without be- 
nefit of clergy, and punishable with death. The legislature 
passed a law to that effect. 

The object of getting up this bank seems to have been to 
increase the finances of the United States, and to aid in carry- 
ing on the war. 

In July, 1782, a law was enacted, prohibiting grants or loca^ 
tions of lands in the county of Tryon. The law specifies, th^t 
all lands situated in said county, and which are bounded on the 
north by Lake Ontario, Onondaga river, (Oswego River) and 
Oneida Lake ; oh the west by a line drawn from the mouth of 
Great Sodus, or Assorodus Creek (we suppose Sodus Bay,) 
through the most westerly inclination of Seneca Lake ; on the 
south by an east and west line, drawn through the most south- 
erly inclination of Seneca Lake ; and on tlie east by a line 
drawn from the most westerly boundary of the Oneida or 
Tuscarora country, on the Oneida Lake, through the most 
westerly inclination of the west bounds of the Oneida or Tus- 
carora country, shall be set apart for the ofKcers and soldiers 
of this state, who should serve in the army of the United States, 
agreeable to law. The lands within the preceding boundaries, 
at present comprise what is called the military tract — but fur- 
ther concerning these lands hereafter. 

The sixth session of the legislature was held at Kingston, in 
ihe county of Ulster, in the winter of 1783. At this session, 
divers acts were enacted ; some to raise troops, and provide 
for those in service ; and others to prevent private lotteries, in- 
corporate churches, repair roads, &.c. 

It has already been remarked, that the enemy, after the bat- 
tle of Long Island, in August, 1776, possessed himself of that 
vol,. III. 31 



242 HISTORY t)F THE 

island, and the city and county of New-Yorli, and held them 
to the peace «f 1783. Besides these, the enemy was in pos- 
session of Fort Oswegatchie on the St. Lawrence, Fort Oswe- 
go on Lake Ontario, at tire mouth of Oswego river, and Fort 
Niagara at the mouth of the River Niagara. These were not 
given up till the year 1796. The possession of these forts 
connected Detroit, Mackinaw, and other posts on the lakes, 
with Montreal, and gave the enemy an unbounded influence 
over the Indians residing around the lakes, and in the interior 
and western parts of this state. Their reduction, owing to the 
weakness of the state and the difficulty of access, was not un- 
dertaken ; an enterprise against Oswego, v/hicb miscarried, ex- 
cepted. This was attempted in winter, but the detachment of 
troops employed were obliged to relinquish it, after they had 
proceeded as far as the outlet of Oneida Lake, in consequence 
of the depth of the snow, and the severity of the weather. Could 
the state have obtained possession of the posts occupied by the 
enemy on its frontiers, it would have greatly impaired the in- 
fluence of the British over the Indian tribes, and might have 
prevented most of the devastations committed on the border 
settlements. All the inroads were made on the side of the 
lakes. The tories repaired to these posts, and aided in getting 
up expeditions. The Indians also repaired to these posts to 
trade. There they were supplied with arms and ammunition. 
There also they were excited, by the enemy's agents, to do acts 
which they would not have done otherwise. The Onondagas 
and Cayugas lived in the neighbourhood of Oswego, and the 
Senecas in that of Niagara. They were in the constant habit 
of intercourse with the traders, agents and garrisons of these 
places. The remoteness of their situation, and the difficulty of 
access, occasioned little or no apprehension of a visit from the 
Americans, before the expeditions made in 1779. The Oneidas^ 
residing near Fort Stanwix, and our settlements on the contrary, 
being influenced by our people, in consequence of their inter- 
course with them, or dreading an invasion, remained neutral 
throughout the war. The state government, after the defection 
of the Mohawks, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas, in 1776, 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 243 

lest the Oneidas might be induced to take up arms, prevailed 
on them to remove from their habitations to Schenectady. — 
Here they were provided for till tiie year ] 784, when they re- 
turned again to their possessions. The friendship and neutra- 
lity of the Oneidas were very beneficial to the border inhabi- 
tants. These, although they could not have brought into the 
field over two hundred and filty, or three hundred warriors, 
might have considerably increased the calamities of the frontier 
settlers. 

The remainder of this chapter we shall devote mostly to the 
controversy between this state and the people of Vermont, dur- 
ing the revolution. In a former chapter we have spoken con- 
cerning the origin of this controversy, and such things as ap- 
pertained to it before the revolution. The controversy being a 
subject of considerable interest, is taken up separately. This 
we have done, to the end, that the reader might the more readi- 
ly understand it. 

On the sixteenth day of January, 1776, a convention met at 
Dorset, and drew up a petition to Congress. 

In this they avowed their willingness to bear a proportion 
in the war, manifested their zeal in the common cause, and 
professed their readiness to contribute in men and money 
whenever called upon by Congress ; but at the same time they 
declared, that they were unwilling to put themselves under the 
government of New-York. 

This was the first formal application which they made to 
Congress. The petition was referred to a committee, who re- 
ported that it was their opinion, that it be recommended to the 
petitioners for the present, to submit to the government of the 
state of New-York, and assist their countrymen in the contest 
with Great Britain. 

In August, 1776, the convention of the state of New York, 
voted that all quit-rents formerly due to the kingdom of Great 
Britain, are now due and owing to the state. This vote, which 
was as impolitic and as unjust, as it had been in the late go- 
vernment to make it, revived the controversy and excited alarms 
which were artfully fomented by the leaders. Some were for 



244 HISTORY OF THE 

uniting with New Hampshire, and disclaiming all dependence 
upon New-York, but that state disclaimed all right lu the ter- 
ritory, and refused to have any political connexion with the in- 
habitants — others expressed a desire to return under the go- 
vernment ol New-York. But the more resolute and numerous 
body, were for establishing a government independent of either. 
A meeting of fifty-one members, from thirty-five of ihe disaffect- 
ed towns, was heid at Dorset. Here they entered into an as- 
sociation for the purpose of resisting the enforcement of the 
laws ol New-York, and for the purpose of opposing Great Bri- 
tain. 

They denounced all persons whb should join with the con- 
vention of the state of New- York. They petitioned Congress 
again, that the disaffected district might be received and rank- 
ed among the independent states of America, and that dele- 
gates therefrom might be admitted into that body. This peti- 
tion was presented by four of the leaders. 

The proceedings of this meeting were viewed by the people 
of New-York and New England in very diff<-rent lights. The 
former considered them as subversive of the laws, and as tend- 
ing to rebellion. The latter rather commended than censur- 
ed them. They viewed the course pursued by New-York to be 
the same as that which the royal government had pursued — 
indeed it was — the lands had been, and still were, the boon of 
contention. 

The colonial government had determined to dispossess the 
proprietors — the state government, which had supplanted the 
royal, was bent on carrying the determination of its predeces- 
sors, however impolitic or unjust, into execution. It had imbib- 
ed all the feudal notions of the former, and there was no check 
but force — there was no majesty to interpose. 

About this lime, the committee of public safety of the state 
of New-York, in the plenitude of their power, took up the mat- 
ter, and by their direction, Mr. A. Ten Brook, the president of 
the convention, on the twentieth day of January, 1777, gave 
this information to Congress : — " 1 am instructed by the com- 
mittee of public safety of the state of New-York," says he, " to 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 245 

inform Congress, that by the arts and influence of certain design- 
ing men, a part of this stale hath been prevailed to revolt, and 
disavow the authority of its legislature." '• The various evi- 
dences and informations we have received, would lead to be- 
lieve, that persons of great influence, in some of our sister 
states, have fostered and fomented these divisions : But as 
these informations tend to accuse some of the members of your 
honourable body, of being concerned iu this scheme, decency 
obliges us to suspend our belief. The convention are sorry 
to observe, that by conferring the commission of colonel upon 
Mr. Seth Warner, one of the leaders, with authority to name 
the ofiicers of a regiment, to be raised independently of the le- 
gislature of this state, and within that part of it which hath 
lately declared an independence upon it. Congress hath given 
but too much weight to the insinuations of those, who pre- 
tend that your honourable body are determined to support 
these insurgents, especially, as Mr. Warner hath been constant- 
ly opposed to the legislature of this state and its laws ; and 
hath, on that very occasion, been proclaimed an outlaw by the 
late governor. It is absolutely necessary to recall the commis- 
sions given to Mr. Warner, and the ofiicers under him, as nothing 
else will do justice to us, and convince those deluded people, 
that Congress have not been prevailed on to assist in dismem- 
bering a state, which of all others, has suflTered the most in the 
common cause." This communication, abounding with warmth, 
and expressions tending to irritate^ widened the breach, and ac- 
celerated the separation. 

On the first of March, in the same year, the convention of 
New-York renewed their representation to Congress. In this 
they say, that they depend upon the justice of that body, to 
adopt every wise and salutary expedient to suppress the mis- 
chiefs which must ensue to the state, and the general confed- 
eracy, from the unjust and pernicious projects of such of the 
inhabitants of New-York, as merely, from selfish and interest- 
ed motives, have fomented the dangerous insurrection : " That 
Congress might be assured that the spirit of defection, notwith- 
standing all the arts and violence of the seducers, was by no 



246 HISTORY OF THE 

means general : That the county of Gloucester, and a very great 
part of Cumberland and Charlotte counties, continued stead- 
fast in their allegiance to the government of New-York : And 
that there was not the least probability that Mr. Warner could 
raise such a number of men as would be an object of public 
moment." 

This, as well as the preceding, was by no means calculated 
to concilitate the minds of the disaffected, whose all was at 
stake. The people of Vermont were uniformly represented as 
rebels. The rulers of the state of New-York had taken 
very nearly the same grounds that the colonial government 
had, and evinced an unwillingness to come to any terms, short 
of an absolute surrender by the inhabitants of their lands,* and 
an abject submission. They did not consider that the dispute 
originally arose about the wild lands, granted by New Hamp- 
shire, and that this was the source of the whole controversy. 
The lands had cost the government of the state of New-York 
nothing. They had formerly been wild, and were now partly 
improved. An active and industrious population had been 
introduced, which might have added strength and importance 
to the state, under conciliatory and equitable laws. New-York 
wanted inhabitants ; she was mostly covered with forests ; she 
was then nearly a wilderness. A single act of the legislature, 
confirmatory of the New Hampshire grants, would have quiet- 
ed all, restored peace and harmony, and put an end to the 
controversy. But this must not be done : There was too much 
interest at stake : The lands which had been settled, had be- 
come valuable, and were becoming more so every day : A cer- 
tain description of land-jobbers must be benefited. Instead, 
therefore, of pursuing mild and equitable measures, the very 
reverse were resorted to, and an everlasting separation occa- 
sioned. 

The proceedings of the people of Vermont, and the measures 
pursued by the government of New- York, had already become 
objects of considerable attention in the neighbouring states. — 
The former seemed to be commended and the latter censured. 

In April, 1 777, a paper was printed at Philadelphia, which 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 247 

was addressed to the people of Vermont. To this address was 
prefixed a resolution which Congress had passed May 15, 1776. 
The resolution, with its appendages, appeared to favour the 
wishes and course pursued by ihe inhabitants of Vermont. — 
The paper and rosolmion, with the opinion of several leading 
members of Congress, recommending a convention, the choos- 
ing of delegates to Congress, a committee of public safety, and 
the formation of a constitution, occasioned considerable indig- 
nation in New-York. The council of public safety directed 
their president, Mr. Pierre Van Cortlandt, to write to Congress 
on this subject. Agreeable to their direction, Mr. Van Cort- 
landt, on the twenty-eighth day of May, 1777, informed that 
body that a report prevailed, and daily gained credit, that the 
revolters were privately countenanced in their designs, by cer- 
tain members of Congress : That the council of safety esteemed 
it their duty to give them such intelligence, that by proper re- 
solutions on the subject, Congress might cease to be injured by 
imputations so disgraceful and dishonourable. However un- 
willing we may be to entertain suspicions so disrespectful to 
any member of Congress, yet the truth is, that no inconsider- 
able number of the people of this state do believe the report to 
be well-founded. 

On the twenty-third day of June, 1777, one of the delegates 
from New- York laid before Congress the printed paper, pub- 
lished at Philadelphia, containing the resolution of that body, 
and the opinion of some of its leading members, and requested 
a decision. Congress ordered the printed paper, the letters 
from Messrs. Ten Brook and Van Cortlandt, and those from 
the inhabitants of Vermont, to be referred to a committee of 
the whole. On the 30th of June, they passed several resolves, 
among which we shall copy the following : — 

" Resolved, That the independent government, attempted to 
be established by the people, styling themselves inhabitants of 
the New Hampshire grants, can derive no countenance or jus- 
tification from the act of Congress, declaring the United Colo- 
nies to be independent of the crown of Great Britain, nor from 
any other resolution of Congress." 



248 HlSTORy OF THE 

" Resolved, That the petition of Joseph Fay, and others, io 
the name and behalf of the people styling themselves as afore- 
said, praying, in their declaration, that they would consider 
themselves as a free and independent state, may be received ; 
that the district, in the said petition described, may be ranked 
among the free and independent stales ; and ihat delegates 
therefrom may be admitted to seats in Congress, be dismissed." 
" Resolved, That Congress, by raising and officering the re- 
giment commanded by Colonel Warner, never meant to give 
any encouragement to the claim of the people aforesaid, to be 
considered as an independent state." 

They also passed a resolution, that the contents of the para- 
graph appended to their resolution of May J5tb, 1776, and 
published at Philadelphia in the Kionth of April, 1777, were 
gross misrepresentations, and calculated to mislead the people. 

These resolves were favourable to the claims of the state of 
New- York, and evinced a wish, on the part of Congress, not to 
interfere in the controversy. At this late period a reconcilia- 
tion might have been brought about, had the rulers moderated 
their claims and confirmed the New Hampshire grants. The 
people of Vermont had failed in their application for admission 
into the confederacy. They were wearied of the controversy, 
and would gladly have submitted, had their property and liber- 
ties been guaranteed to them. But the resolves tended to en- 
courage the rulers of New-York to persist, and to take stronger 
grounds. The people of Vermont became every day more de- 
termined, when they saw that all the avenues to conciliation, 
and the security of their dearest rights, were barred. 

They assembled, and formed themselves into a commonwealth, 
elected a governor, and chose members of assembly. Such was 
the state of things in Vermont, when General Burgoyne com- 
pelled the northern army to abandon Ticonderoga. Soon after 
this event a dispute arose between Vermont and New Hamp- 
shire. This was occasioned in consequence of the inhabitants, 
on the east side of Connecticut River, desiring to unite with the 
Vermontese in the erection of a new state. Sixteen towns of 
New Hampshire disclaimed all connexion with the parent stale. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 249 

In 1778, the legislature of Vermont voted that these towns 
should be admitted. At the next meeting- the members from 
the sixteen towns, together with fifteen oihers, withdrew, be- 
cause the house refused to erect a county on the east side of 
the river, and formed themselves into a convention, and invited 
the towns on both sides of the river to meet with them. On the 
ninth day of December, 1778, they convened at Corinth, where 
it was proposed to form a state from the west part of New 
Hampshire and the east part of Vermont. In February, 1779, 
the Vermontese assembly abrogated the union with the six- 
teen towns, and limited their views on the east to Connecticut 
River. 

Not long after this, New Hampshire put in a claim for the 
whole tract of country, comprising the state of Vermont. This 
claim was laid before Congress. New-York also renewed her 
claim, and laid it before the same body. 

The people of Vermont became more alarmed than ever. 
They imagined that the claimants had agreed upon a division 
of the country between them. 

About the same time, Massachusetts likewise put in a claim. 
Thus three states had entered the lists for the contested terrir 
tory. 

Mr, Clinton, the governor of the state of New-York, wrote, 
on the seventh of July, 17S0, to one of his friends in Vermont, 
4hat he would still, as on a former occasion, earnestly recom- 
mend prudent resistance to the drafting of men, raising taxes, 
and the exercise of every act of government, under the ideal 
Vtimojit state ; and that in those towns where the friends of the 
government were sufficiently powerful for the purpose, he would 
advise associations for the mutual defence of their persons and 
estates, against usurpation. The usurpation here complained 
of, consisted in the manly defence of the Vermontese in their 
estates and persons, against unjust laws. 

In a letter of July 8th, he warmly urged Congress to come 

lo a decision. He censured the inhabitants for the violence of 

their proceedings, averred that it would soon bring on a civil 

war, and that all the grievances which the people had suffered, 

VOL. III. 32 



250 HISTORY OF THE 

arose from the late royal government of the province of New- 
York, hulI not from the present. This was ver) quaint reason- 
ing, and not at all to the purpose. The governor and his 
friends were following the very footsteps of the royal govern- 
ment. 

In 1779, the controversy bore a very hostile appearance. 
The inhabitants m Cumberland had, in general, been well af- 
fected towards the government of the state of New-York, and 
showed an unwillingness to unite in the erection of a new state. 
This gave umbrage : Colonel Ethan Allen, the principal leader, 
tvas directed by the Vermontese government to assemble a part 
of the militia and march into Cumberland, and coerce the in- 
habitants to renounce the government of New-York, and ac- 
knowledge tliat of Vermont. Upon obtaining intelligence of 
this, Colonel Patterson, the commander of the militia of Cum- 
berland, wrote to Mr. Clinton, for advice and directions how to 
act. In answer, Mr. Clinton recommended firmness and pru- 
dence, and assured him, that if it became necessary, he would 
order out a detachment of militia to protect the people. 

Allen, after liaving collected a large body of men, marched 
into Cumberland, and seized Colonel Patterson and others, 
acting under the state of New- York. 

Mr. Clinton, on the 18th of May, 1779, immediately after 
the receipt of Colonel Patterson's letter, wrote to the president 
of the Congress, that matters were fast approaching a very 
serious crisis ; that he daily expected he should be obliged to 
order out a force to protect the orderly disposed in the disaf- 
fected district ; that justice, the faith of government, the peace 
and safety of society, would not permit him to continue much 
longer a passive spectator of the violence committed on his 
feiiow-citizens. 

His letter, and other papers, relating to the disputes with 
New Hampshire, were laid before Congress on the 29th of May, 
1779, and were referred to a committee of the whole. On the 
first of June, Congress, who understood the policy of the lead- 
ing men of New-York in relation to the dispute, resolved, that 
9. committee be appointed to repair to Vermont, and inquire 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 251 

^ftito the reasons why the people refused to continue citizens of 
the respective states whicli had heretofore exercised jurisdiction 
over them : And that they should take every prudent measure to 
promote an amicable settlement of all differences. 

On the seventh of June, Mr. Clinton wrote again to Con- 
gress, informing them of the invasion of Cumberldud by Allen, 
the seizure of the officers, and other acts of violence. On the 
16lh, Congress directed that they should be released. 

The committee appointed by Congress to inquire into the 
causes of the difierences between the Vermontese and the neigh- 
bouring states, consisted of five persons, but only two, Dr. 
Witherspoon and a Mr. Atle, attended. These gentlemen 
went to Bennington in the latter month, where they made many 
inquiries, and had several conferences with the leaders of the 
Vermontese, and several of the inhabitants friendly to the ad- 
ministration of New-York. They endeavoured to bring about 
a reconciliation, but without efl'ect. 

Three difierent claims were now before Congress to the same 
tract of country. It had, in some measure, become necessary 
for that body to take up the subject, and canvass the rights of 
the several claimants, as well as those of the people, whose 
lands and liberties were at stake, and make some decision. 
Accordingly, on the 24lh of September, 17"9, Cmigfess, among 
other resolves, passed the following : 

" Resolved, unanimously. That it be, and hereby is, most 
earnestly recommended to the states of New-York, New 
Hampshire, and Massachusetts, forthwith to pass laws express- 
ly, authorizing Congress to hear and determine all differences 
between them, relative to their respective boundaries." 

" Resolved, That Congress will, on the first day of February 
next, proceed to hear and examine into the disputes and difier- 
ences relative to the jurisdiction between the three states res- 
pectively, or such of them as shall pass the laws before men- 
tioned, on the one part, and the people of the district aforesaid, 
on the other part ; and after a full hearing, will determine the 
same." 

" Resolved, That it is the duty of the people of the district 



252 HISTORY OF THE 

aforesaid, to abstain, in the mean time, from exercising any 
power over any of the inhabitants of the said district, who pro- 
fess themselves to be citizens of, or to owe allegiance to any, or 
either of the said states ; but that none of the towns, either on 
the east or west side of Connecticut river be considered as with- 
in the said district, but such as have hitherto actually joined in 
denying the jurisdiction of either of the said states, and have 
assumed a separate jurisdiction, which they call the state of 
Vermont." 

" And further, That in the opinion of Congress, the said 
three states, ought, in the mean time, to suspend executing their 
laws over any of the inhabitants of said district, except such of 
them as shall profess allegiance to, and confess the jurisdiction 
of the same respectfully." 

^^ Resolved, That in the opinion of Congress, no unappro^ 
priated lands or estates which are, or may be adjudged, forfeit- 
ed, lying in said district, ought, until the final decision of Con- 
gress, to be granted or sold." 

From these resolves, it is pretty obvious that Congress wish- 
ed to quiet all parties, and to evade a decision. In truth, that 
body could have done little, had it been disposed. 

The states of New-York and New Hampshire passed the acts, 
but Massaoxiusetts did not. 

The Vermontese were highly displeased, and refused to com- 
ply with the resolves. The leaders published an address to the 
people of the United States, in which they declared that they 
could not view themselves as holden to submit to the execution 
of a plan, which they had reason to believe, was commenced by 
the neighbouring states : That the liberties and privileges of the 
state of Vermont, by said resolutions, were to be suspended 
upon the arbitrament and determination of Congress. That 
that bod}' had no right to intermeddle in the internal police 
and government of Vermont: That the state existed, indepen- 
dent of any of the thirteen states, and was not accountable to 
them or to their representatives. 

That the state of Vermont was not represented in Congress, 
and could not submit to resolutions passed without its consent.^ 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 253 

That there appeared a manifest inequality, not to say predeter- 
mination, that Congress should request of their conslitutnts, 
power to judge and determine the cause, and never ask the 
consent of thousands whose all was at stake. Tiiey also de- 
clared that they were, and had ever been ready to bear their 
proportion of the burden and expense of the war with Great 
Britain, whenever they were admitted into the confederacy. 

This appeal was published on the tenih day of December, 
1779, and had, in some respects, the eilect contemplated. 
Congress, however, in consequence of the great press of busi- 
ness before them, did not take up the subject, pursuant to their 
resolution. 

On the twenty-first of March, 1780, it was taken up by that 
body, and postponed indefinitejy. Congress', on the second of 
June, resolved, that the proceedings of the people of the New 
Hampsliire grants, were highly unwa'rantable and sul)versive 
of the peace and welfare of the United States; and that they 
be strictly required to forbear from any acts of authority, civil 
or military, over those of the peop;: ^^ho professed allegiance 
to other states. This resolution had, in some measure, become 
necessary, from the frequent outrages committed on the peace- 
ably disposed. On the ninth of June, they deterred the further 
consideration of the matter, to the second Tuesday in Sep- 
tember. 

Upon the receipt of these resolves, the governor and council 
of Vermont replied, that however Congress might view these 
resolutions, they were considered by the Vermontese in a dif- 
ferent light : That Vermont being a free and independent state, 
had denied the authority of Congress to judge of their juris- 
diction : That as they were not included in the thirteen states, 
if necessitated to it, they were at liberty to offer or accept terms 
of cessation of hostilities with Great Britain. 

The claims of New-York and New Hampshire were shortly 
after brought up before Congress. Both alleged that the Ver- 
montese had no right to establish an independent state. Agents, 
on the behalf of the Vermontese, were also present. But Con- 
gress did not acknowledge them as such. The investigation 



254 ttlSTORY OF THE 

Commeniced on the nineteenth of September, and closed on the 
twenty-seventh, when Congress resolved, that the further con- 
sideration of the matters should be postponed mdefiniiely. The 
Vermontese agents protested against the whole proceedings, 
in consequence of their not being accrediied. 

Disappointed in their expectations of being admitted into the 
confederation, the leaders sent letters to some influential men 
in the western towns of New Hampshire, proposing a convention 
at Gharlestown, on Connecticut River, and a union with those 
towns. A convention was accordingly got up, and a committee 
was appointed to confer with the legislature of Vermont. A 
conference was had and a union entered into in February, 1781. 

About this time certain of the Vermontese leaders opened a 
correspondence with the British generals in Canada. Induce- 
ments were held out, but no arrangements were entered into. 
From these the British generals anticipated that beneficial re- 
sults would redound to their country, in case Vermont should 
solicit their protection. The correspondence, it would seem, 
had been begun anterior to the time stated, and before the thir- 
tieth of March, 17b0. This is proved, by a letter, wrote on be» 
half of the British general, at the city of New-York, by Col- 
onel Robinson, to Ethan Allen, at that time a colonel in the 
service of the United States. This letter contained some indi- 
rect overtures. Allen showed it to some ot his associates. 
Several meetings were held, in which it was concluded not to 
divulge its contents abroad. 

On the second of February, 1781, Colonel Robinson ad- 
dressed another letter to Allen, in which he avowed objects, 
and solicited an answer. The latter gave no reply to either, 
but on the ninth of March, in the same year, forwarded them 
to Congress. In a letter of the same date, he endeavoured to 
justify the conduct of the Vermontese, and expressed bis de^ 
termination to do every thing in his power towards the estab- 
lishment of a state. He averred that the Vermontese had a 
right to agree to a suspension of arms with Great Britain. 

In the spring of 1781, the British made inroads into Vei^ 
mont, and carried a few prisoners into Canada. An exchange 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 255 

became necessary. A flag of truce was sent by the Vermontese 
into that province, to efl'ect the exchanges. General Haldi- 
mand, the governor of Canada, complied with the request, and 
a release was made. In the fall the British came up the lake 
with some forces. The commanding officer brought a letter 
from the governor to Mr. Chittenden, the executive of Ver- 
mont ; and sent a flag to Ethan Allen, then a brigadier of the 
Vermontese militia, proposing a cessation of hostilities. This 
proposal was acceded to on the part of Allen. Mr. Ira Allen, 
a brother of Ethan, and a Mr. Fay, were appointed commis- 
sioners on the part of Vermont, to negotiate an exchange of 
prisoners. 'J he commissioners of the British were Captain J. 
ShiM'wood and a Mr. Smith. These had several meetings, and 
an exchange was effected. Every thing wore the appearance 
of an adjustment of difficulties with Great Britain, and an aban- 
donment of the cause of independent America ; but an event 
soon after occurred, which tended to impair the confidence 
which these meetings had inspired. In the month of October 
a party of Indians made a descent on Royalton, and did con- 
(Siderable damage. 

In September, Fay and Allen, on the part of Vermont, en- 
tered into a convention with the governor of Canada, whereby 
a suspension of arms was agreed upon. After this, the enemy 
returned all the captives, without ransom. While the Vermon- 
tese were conducting these affairs, an event happened, which 
put an end to them. Lord Cornwallis, with his whole army, 
were made prisoners. About the same time, the enemy ascend- 
ed Lake Champlain, with an armed force. The commander 
sent letters to Charlestown, announcing his arrival, but the 
leading men of Vermont declined to answer them, or maintain 
further correspondence. The commander of the enemy, en- 
couraged by the previous correspondence, had been induced to 
bring printed proclamations for distribution. But the people 
of Vermont were not prepared for such an event. The corres- 
pondence, however, was kept up. Two letters were forwarded 
by the British to the leaders. In July, 1782, Ira Allen, the 
brother of Ethan, repaired to Canada, at the instance of Mi\ 



256 HISTORV OF THE 

Chittenden and others, and had an interview with Haldimand, 
the governor. The object of this mission, it was said, was ihe 
exchange of two officers. Mr. Haldimand wrote to Governor 
Chittenden. His letter bears date August 8th, 1782. In this 
he assures Mr. Chittenden, the governor of Vermont, that no 
hostilities should be committed upon the people of that state. 

On the 25th of March, 1783, the British agent in Canada 
wrote a letter on the same and other business. In this, a strong 
desire is manifested, that a reconciliation may be speedily ac- 
complished between the Vermontese and the mother country, 
and that the negotiations already begun under such propitious 
circumstances, may soon be closed. 

The peace between the United States and Great Britain put 
an end to these correspondences. The tract of land compris- 
ing Vermont was included within the states. 

But to return. — While these correspondences were going on, 
Congress, on the 7th of August, 1781, resumed the subject 
matter, which had been laid before them, in relation to the 
claims of the states of New-York and New-Hampshire, and 
passed the following resolves, to wit : 

" Whel-eas the states of New-York and New-Hampshire have 
submitted to Congress the decision of the disputes between them 
and the people inhabiting the New-Hampshire grants, on the west 
side of Connecticut River, concerning their respective claims of 
jurisdiction over the said territory, and have been heard thereon: 
And whereas the people aforesaid, claim and exercise the power 
of a sovereign independent state, and have requested to be ad- 
mitted into the union of the United States of America ; in order 
thereto, and that they may have an opportunity to be heard in 
vindication of the said claim: 

" Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to confer 
with such person or persons as may be appointed by the people 
residing on the New- Hampshire grants, on the west side of 
Connecticut River, or by the representative body, respecting 
the claim to be an independent state, and on what terms it may 
be proper to admit them into the union of these states, in case 
the United States, in Congress assembled, shall determine to 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 257 

recognize their independence and thereon to make report. And 
it is hereby further recommended to the people of the territory 
aforesaid, or their representative body, to appoint an agent or 
agents to repair immediately to Philadelphia, with full powers 
and instructions to confer with the said committee on the mat- 
ters aforesaid, and on behalf of the people aforesaid, to agree 
upon and ratify terms and articles of union and confederation 
with the United States of America, in case they shall be admit- 
ted into the union. And the said committee are hereby in- 
structed to give notice to the agents of the states of New-York 
and New Hampshire, to be present at the conference aforesaid.- 

Agents attended on behalf of the people of Vermont, and on 
the 18th of August, had a conference with said committee. Upoo 
the report of the committee. Congress, on the 20th of August, 
" Resolved, That it be an indispensible preliminary to the re- 
cognition of the independence of the Vermontese, and their ad- 
mission into the compact of the United States, that they relin- 
quish all demands of lands or jurisdiction, on the east side of 
the west bank of Connecticut River, and on the west side of a 
line, beginning at the northwestern corner of the state of Massa-- 
chusetts, thence running twenty miles east of Hudson*s River, 
»o far as the said river runs northerly in its general course, 
then by the west bounds of the townships granted by the late 
government of New-Hampshire, to the river running from the 
South Bay to Lake Champlain i thence along the said river, 
to Lake Champlain ; thence along the waters of Lake Cham- 
plain, to latitude forty-five degrees north, excepting a neck of 
land between Missisconi Bay, and the vraters of Lake Cham- 
plain." 

In October, of the same year, these resolves were laid before 
the assembly of Vermont. After much debate, they determined 
not to accept of them ; and also further, that they would not 
submit to any arbitrament made by Congress, or any other 
body of men. 

We shall conclude chapter seven, by giving the names of the 
officers of the revolutionary army, who served in the line of 
VOL. III. 33 



2SB HISTORY OF THE 

this state, during the war. The list was furnished me by the- 
Hon. Silas Wood, the auihor of — A sketch of the first settle- 
ment of Long Island. It cannot be viewed with indifference 
by the people of this state, and especially ihe descendants of 
those officers. Few, very few of those who served their country 
in that long, doubtful, and arduous contest are now living. 

A list of the Officers of the Revolulionary Army hehnsing to 
the line of the State of Aew- York, loho served to the end of 
the war. 

Major-general — Alexander M'Dougall. 

Brisradicr-stncral — James Clinton. 

Colonels — Peter Gansevoort, John Lamb, William Malcom, 
James Livingston, Philip Van Cortlandt, Goose Van Schenick. 

Lieutenant-colonels — Jacobus Bruen, Robert Cochran, Sid- 
ney Hay, Henry B. Livingston, William P. Smith, Khcnctai 
Stephens, Cornelius Van Dycke, Benjamin Walker, Frederick 
Weisenfelts, IMarinus Willet. 

Majors — Sebastian Bauman, John Davis, Nicholas Fish, 
John Graham, Samuel Logan, Stephen M'Dougall, Lewis M. 
Malcom, George H. Nicholson, Richard Piatt, James Rose- 
c rants. 

Captains — Anron Aerson, Philip D. Beveir, Leonard Bleeck- 
er, Thomas T. Bliss, Win. Bull, John Doughty, Edward DunS' 
comb, Andrew Finck, George Fleming, Chilson Ford, Theo- 
dosious Fowler, Abner French, Henry Goodwin, Charles Gra- 
ham, Silas Gray, James Gregg, Jonathan Hallet, John F. 
Haratramack, Derick Hanson, Benjamin Hicks, Robert Hunter, 
Cornelius T. Jansen, John Johnson, Abraham Livingston, 
Thomas Machin, Flihu Marshall, Alexander M'Arthur, An- 
drew Mordie, Gershom Mott, Abraham Neely, Daniel Nevin, 
Nathaniel Norton, Jackson Patton, Charles Parsons, Henry 
Pawling, Solomon Pendleton, Samuel Pell, Benjamin Pelton, 
Jacob Reid, James Robecheau, John Santford, James Stewart, 
Israel Smith, Nathan Strong, George Syter, Peter Taulman, 
Henry Tiebout, Jonathan Titus, John C. Ten Broeck, John 
D. Ten Eyck, Henry Vanderburgh, John Van Dycke, Peter 



STATE OF NFW-YORK. 259 

J. Vosburgli, Nicholas Van Reussolaer, Aiuhony Wclp, Jacob 
Wright, Kobert Wright, Guy Young. 

Lieutenants — Jonas Addoms, Peter Anspack, Edward Arm- 
strong, Josiah Bagley, James Barret, Jtrrick lieekman, Uil- 
liam Belknap, Robert Bennet, Prentice Bouen, Francis Brind- 
ley, James Bradford, Caleb Brewster, James Brewster, Jacobus 
Brutn, Palmer Gady, Alexander Clinton, Christopher Codwise, 
^Viiliam Golbreath, Philip Conine, Michael Conolly, Htnry 
Dember, Daniel Denniston, George Denniston, Henry Dodge, 
Sanuiel Dodge, Alexander Down, Joshua Druke, Peter Els- 
worth, Samuel English, James I'airlie, Joseph Frelick, John 
Furinan, Benjamin Gilbert, Finch Gildersleve, Isaac Guyon, 
Francis Hanmer, Abraham Hardenburgh, John L. Harden- 
burgh, Elisha Harve}", Thomas Hunt, Christopher Hutton, 
James Johnston, David Kirkpatrick, George Laycraft, William 
Laycraft, Jonathan Lawrence, Abraham Legget, Samuel Lewis, 
Robert H. Livingston, Alexander M' Arthur, Peter Magee, 
Anthony Maxwell, John Miles, Francis Monty, William Morris, 
Ebenezer Mott, Peter Nestel, Charles Nukerk, Hit- 1 Peck, Wil- 
liam Pennington, John Reed, W^ilhelmus R^ckman, Barent 
Salisbury, William Scudder, John Shaw, Isaac Smith, John 
Smith, Ephraim Snow, John Stagg, Cornelius Swarivvout, 
Henry Swartwout, Samuel Tallmage, Peter Tappen, Abraham 
Ten Eyck, Alexander Thompson, Andrew Thompson, Aznriah 
Tuthill, Peter Van Benschoten, John Van Dycke, Rudolph Van 
Hovcnbarack, Jeremiah \ an Kensselaer, Tobias Van Vech- 
ten, Bartholomew Van VolUenburgh, Tunis Van Waggenen, 
Henry Van Woert, ( harles F. Weisenfelis, Jacobus H. Wen- 
den, Ephraim Woodruff, Peter Woodward, Joihara Wright. 

Ensigns — John Burr, ]\ehemiah Carpenter, Samuel Dodge, 
Joiin Fondy, Douw Fondy, Benjamin Herrin, Garret Lansing, 
Joseph Morril, William Peters, Kobert Provost, Dirck Schuy- 
ler, Barnabas Swartwout, Abraham Ten Broeck, Bariholomcw 
Vandenburgh, Robert Wilson. 

Physician- general — John Cochran. 

Physicians and Surgeons — Geo. Campbell, Charles M'Knight, 
Joseph Young. 



260 litSTOKY GF THE 

Surgeo7is — Samuel Cook, George Draper, Daniel Merinamo^ 

Thomas Reid, Caleb Sweet, Nicholas Schuyler, John F. 

Vachee, Hemlock Woodruff. 

Hospital Surgeon — ]\lalachi Treat, John Elliot, Surgeon's 
Mate. 

Apothecary-general — J. B. Cutting, Andrew Cragie. ApO' 

thecary. 

The whole number of Revolutionary Officers who served to thf 
end of the war^ in the tines oj the different states, were 2310, 

New Hampshire 79 

Massachusetts, including Maine . . 445 

Connecticut 254 

Rhode Island 44 

New- York 200 

New-Jersey 92 

Pennsylvania ........ 421 

Delaware 32 

Maryland 166 

Virginia, Including Kentucky . . . 337 

North Carolina 99 

South Carolina 93 

Georgia 48 

See Wood's Sketch of L. I., Laws of N. Y. v. 1, printed in 1792, Journals. 
oT the Assembly, Williams' History of Vermont, &c. 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 261 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Condition of the American army at Valley Forge — Combination 
to remove H ashington from the command — Uisiresses of the 
army — Arrival oj the Baron Steuben at Valley Forge — The 
British government appoints commissioners to treat with the 
Americans about an adjustment of differences — Intelligence of 
a treaty of alliance with France is brought — British treat- 
ment of American prisoners — The British make inroads into 
New-Jersey Jrom Philadelphia — Sir Henry Clinton evacuates 
the city of Philadelphia, and marches for blew- 1 ork — Wash- 
ington breaks up his camp at Valley Forge, and goes in quest 
of the British — Battle of Monmouth — Count D'Estaing ar- 
rives at Rhode Island with a fleet — The Americans land on 
Rhode Island — The French fleet puts out to sea in pursuit of 
the British fleet — Both fleets dispersed by a storm — The 
French fleet returns to Rhode Island, and goes thence to B-^s- 
ton — The Americans retreat from Rhode Island — Predatory 
incursions of the British into Connecticut — American army 
retires into winter quarters at the Highlands — Arrival of the 
British commissioners — Wyoming laid waste by the tories and 
Indians — Dispositions made J or the invasion of Canada and 
the protection of the frontier settlements — The British posts at 
Kaskaskias and St. Vincents taken by Colonel Clark. 

1778. — The condition of the American armies at this time 
was deplorable. In every division complaints were made of 
the deficiency of provisions, clothing, blankets, and tents. 
Some of the troops under Washington showed indications of 
mutiny. The paper currency had depreciated in value, and 
the inhabitants would not accept of it in pay for necessaries for 
the army. At Valley Forge the last ration was delivered, and 
it became apparent that the army would be dissolved, unless 



262 HISTORY OF THE 

provisions could be obtained. Under these circumstances, 
Washington, in order to avert the dissohition of the army and 
save the states, ordered that the country should be scoured, 
and provisions taken, wherever found, to supply the urgent 
wants. 

The commissary department organized by Congress was very 
defective. Frequent representations in relation to this were 
made to that body, by the commander-in-chief and others, but 
to no purpose. The seizures produced great irritation, and 
rendered the cause unpopular with those who were not pre- 
disposed to make great sacrifices. Congress had, by a resolu- 
tion of the seventeenth of September, 1777, which was continu- 
ed in November, authorized Washington to seize provisions for 
the army, within seventy miles of his head-quarters. In addi- 
tion to this, they directed him to issue a proclamation, calling 
on the farmers within the like distance, to thresh out the one- 
half of their grain by the first of February, and the residue 
by the first of March, under the penalty of having the whole 
seized. 

The success of this experiment for subsisting the army by 
impressments, did not meet tl>e expectations of Congress. Sup- 
plies derived by force are precarious. They may relieve for 
an instant, but eventually prove pernicious. Besides, they 
spread disaffection among the people ; and create in the soldiers 
a disposition to rob and plunder. 

About this time a combination was formed against Washing- 
ton, in which many members of Congress, and some of the offi- 
cers, were concerned. The eclat with which the capitulation 
at Saratoga had surrounded the reputation of General Gates, 
acquired advocates for the opinion, that the arms of America 
would be more fortunate, if that gentleman should be elevated 
to the supreme command. He showed by his conduct, that if 
he had not originated he at least sanctioned it. He had not 
only omitted to write to Washington the successes of his army, 
after the victory of the seventh of October had opened to him 
the prospect of destroying the enemy's army ; but he had carried 
on a correspondence with General Conway, in which that offi- 



STATE OF NEW-YORk. 263 

cer had expressed himself with great contempt of the comman- 
der-in-chief. 

The people of Pennsylvania too, chagrined at losing their 
capital, and unmindful of their own backwardness in strength- 
ening the army, blamed Washington, because he had not, with 
inferior forces, prevented it and gained splendid victories. The 
legislature of that state, on the report that he was marching his 
army into winter quarters, sent a remonstrance to Congress 
which manifested their disaffection. About this time the board 
of war, of which Gates was president, appointed General Con- 
way inspector and major-general, without regard to rank. 

The machinations which were carrying on against the com- 
mander-in-chief did not escape his notice ; but they did not in 
the slightest degree change his measures. His desire to con- 
tinue at the head of the armies, flowed from the conviction, that 
in that station he might be useful to his country. 

Fortunately lor America, the machinations ol General Gates 
and the disaffected members of Congress, were prostrated. 

But to return again to the operations of the armies. Wash- 
ington, to anticipate General Howe, who it was understood had 
contennplated a post at Wilmington, detached Genera! Small- 
wood to that place. 

To recruit the army for the ensuing campaign was an object 
of the utmost consideration. From the depreciation of the 
paper currency, and other causes, little or no hope remained of 
obtaining any respectable number of men by voluntary enlist- 
ments, and coercive means could only be employed by the re- 
spective states. To persuade them to comply required all the 
influence of Washington ; and his letters urged them to meet 
with sufficient means the crisis of the war, which was now dp- 
proaching. 

He exhorted them to place no confidence in foreign »id, but 
to depend on their own strength and resources, for the mainte- 
nance of their independence. He enclosed to each state, a 
return of its troops on the continental establishment, showing 
its deficiency which each was urged to suppl}'. 

In addition to the other evils which menaced the destruction 



'264 UISTORV OF THE 

of the army, the depreciation of the paper money had become 
so considerable, and the embarrassments under which com- 
merce laboured, had so enhanced the price of articles imported, 
that the pay of an ofiicer was no compensation, and would not 
even furnish him with absolute necessaries, which might give 
him a decent appearance, or cover his person from the extremes 
of heat and cold. Those possessing small estates, found them 
melting away, and others were unable to appear befitting their 
rank. 

In an army raised, as was that of the United States, great 
inequality of character among the officers was to be expected. 
The hard and active service was well calculated to ascertain the 
merit of each individual. It was necessary to purge the army 
of persons unfit to hold commissions; and the number of the 
sentences of the courts- martial, manifested their determination 
to do so ; yet a surplus number of officers still remained, so in- 
complete were the regiments; some who were unable to support 
themselves, tendered their commissions to the commander-in- 
chief. Among these were no inconsiderable number who pro- 
mised to be most the ornaments of the army. Nor could the 
hope be entertained, that the mischief would stop with the mere 
loss of officers whose continuance in service might promote the 
public good. 

A general indifference about holding a commission ; a gen- 
£ral opinion that an obligation was conferred, and not received, 
by continuing in the army, were very unfavourable not only to 
that spirit of emulation, which stimulates to warUUe deeds, than 
are required, but to a complete execution of orders. 

An officer, whose pride was wounded, whose caprice was not 
indulged, who apprehended censure for a fault, was ready to 
throw up his commission. 

Washington watched with anxiety the progress of a temper 
which he feared would increase and be attended with fatal ef- 
fects. 

The weak condition of the regiments, the remonstrances of 
the general, and the complaints from every quarter, determined 
Congress to depute a committee of their body, who should 



STATE OF JVEM'-YORK. 265 

reside in the caiDp, during the winter, and in concert with the 
g-eneral, investigate the state of the army, and report such re- 
I'orms as the public good seemed to require. 

This committee repaired to head -quarters in January. The 
commander-in-chief laid before them a statement, in which a 
view was taken of the army, and in which remedies for the cor- 
rection of existing evils, as well as regulations essential to the 
future prosperity of the army, were designated. 

The wants and distresses of the army, when seen by the 
committee, made on them a deep impression. They commu- 
nicated to Congress the sentiments which were occasioned in 
their own bosoms, and urged a speedy correction. But Con- 
gress proceeded slowly in applying remedies. Much of the 
sufterings of the army was attributed to neglect in the quarter- 
master's department. The committee laboured to remove these 
impressions. Plans were devised by that body, but from their 
inutility were never approved in the camp. Not long after, 
the commissary-general of purchases was placed at the head of 
his department. 

The number of regiments, and the apportionment on each 
state, were taken by Congress, as suggested by Washington, 
and it was resolved that the several stales be required forthwith 
to fill up, by draughts from their militia, or in any other way 
that should be effectual, their quotas of continental troops. 

While Congress was slowly deliberating on the reforms pro- 
posed, the distresses of the army were drawing to a crisis, and 
its dissolution was threatened. Early in Febnuary the com- 
missaries gave notice that the country, to a great distance, was 
exhausted ; and that it would be impracticably to obtain sup- 
plies for the army longer than to the end of that month. The 
general-in-chief, under these circumstances, wrote to Governor 
Trumbull of Connecticut, urging him, if possible, to send on 
supplies. He detached General Wayne into the neighbour- 
hood of Philadelphia, with orders to seize all horses fit for 
cavalry or for draught — all cattle and sheep, as well as every 
species of forage proper for the use of the army. 

The inhabitants endeavoured, as much as possible, to defeat 

VOL. III. 34 



266 HISTORY OF THE 

the object of the foraging parties. They secreted their provi- 
sions and teams, which gave the country the appearance of 
having been pillaged. Before sufficient aids could be furnish- 
ed by these means, the provisions in the camp were exhausted. 
Thus the troops were destitute of meat, and many of the horses 
died for want of fodder. 

In this exigency, Washington left no means untried to sub- 
sist bis army. He sent General Greene out, with a numerous 
detachment, to procure, by any means, immediate supplies. — 
Captain Lee was ordered to the states of Delaware and Mary-- 
land, and Colonel Tilghman to New-Jersey. At the same 
time he wrote letters to Congress and the state governors, urg- 
ing them to exert themselves, in order to procure reliefs for the 
army. 

Happily for America, Washington, from his great talents, 
was enabled, notwithstanding the discordant materials of which 
his army was composed, to attach the officers and soldiers 
generally to his person. To this is to be attributed the preser- 
vation of the forces under his immediate command, and under 
situations the most trying. 

In the mean time, the army obtained supplies of provisions, 
which saved it from the impending famine which menaced its 
dissolution. The strong measures resorted to produced tem- 
porary relief. 

About the beginning of February, the terms of the militia of 
Pennsylvania, stationed northeast of the Schuylkill, expired, 
and they returned home, and those called out to succeed them^ 
did not arrive for some time. 

In this interval, while the avenues leading to Philadelphia 
were unguarded, the enemy obtained considerable supplies from 
the country. 

At no period of the war had the American army been re? 
duced to a situation of greater peril, than during the winter at 
Valley Forge. Had the enemy marc»hed out of Philadelphia 
in force, the American army could not have continued in camp. 
The want of provisions would have forced them out of it; and 
their deplorable condition, iu respect to clothes, would have 



STATfi OF NEW-YORK. 267 

prevented them from keeping the field. The relurns made on 
the first day of February, show that three thousand nine hun- 
dred and eighty-nine men in camp, were unable to do duty, for 
want of clothes. Of this number scarcely a soldier had slioes. 
Even among those returned capable of doing duty, many were 
so badly clothed, that exposure to the severity of the weather 
would have destroyed them. Although the total of the army 
exceeded seventeen thousand men, the effective rank and file 
scarcely exceeded five thousand. 

While the sufferings of the soldiers, first during a winter 
campaign, and afterwards in what were termed winter-quarters, 
filled the hospitals with the sick — a dreadful mortality prevailed. 
The provision made for them, which at best, was inadequate, 
was misapplied. They were crowded in small apartments, and 
a putrid fever raged among them which carried off great ' 
numbers. 

Fortunately for America, the real condition of the army was 
not well known to General Howe, and that officer had ever 
been careful of the lives and comfort of his troops. On no 
occasion had he manifested a disposition to hazard them with- 
out a clear advantage. In tfais particular instance, a winter's 
expedition against the army at Valley Forge, would have been 
extremely detrimental to the cause of America. But General 
Howe confined his operations to small excursions that were 
calculated to enlarge the comforts of his army, which was 
much distressed for fuel and forage. The vigilence of the 
Americans on the lines, intercepted a great proportion of the 
supplies designed for the British army. 

While the defect in the resources, arising from the deprecia- 
tion of the bills of credit, manifested itself in all the military 
departments, a plan was matured in Congress, and the board of 
war, for a second invasion of Canada. It was proposed to 
place the Marquis de La Fayette at the head of the army, des- 
tined for this enterprise, and he accordingly was appointed a 
major-general. 

General de La Fayette, after his appointment, repaired to 
Albany, in order to place himself at the head of the troops 



26|6 iilSTORV OF THE 

destined ibr-this service. Bat soon after hh arrival at the 
latter place, he ubandoiied the enterprise. This step was ren- 
dered necessary in consequence of a want of men. 

While the army lay at Valley Forge, the Baron Steuben, a 
a very meritorious ofiicer, arrived at the camp. The Baron had 
been an ofiicer in the Prussian service, and came highly recom- 
mended. He was w(^ll versed in military tactics, and in every 
respect qualified to instruct raw troops. He claimed no rank, 
and only profi'ered his services as a volunteer. In this capacity 
he performed them so satisfactorily to Washington, that Con- 
gress promoted him to the rank of major-general, conditioned 
to perform the duties of inspector-general. 

The Baron soon established one system of military tactics 
in the American armies. 

The surrender of the army of Burgoyne, as has been here- 
tofore stated, made a strong impression on the British nation. 
This impression, by and by, forced its way into the cabinet, 
where a plan of pacification was agreed upon. 

After the repetition of several motions on the part of the 
opposition, tending to the abandonment of the war in America, 
Lord JNorth gave notice in the house of commons, that he had 
matured a plan of reconciliation between Great Britain and 
her colonies, which he intended speedily to lay before the house. 
Conformable to this notice, be moved to bring in, " first— A 
bill for removing all doubts and apprehensions concerning 
taxation by Parliament, in the colonies of North America. 

«' Second — A bill to enable his Majesty to appoint com- 
missioners to treat upon the means of quieting the disorders 
subsisting in certain of the American colonies." 

The first contained a declaration that Parliament would im- 
pose no tax or duty whatever, payable within any of the colo- 
nies of North America, except only such duties as it may be 
expedient to impose for the purposes of commerce, the net 
produce of which should always be paid and applied to, and 
for the use of the colonies in which the same shall be respec- 
tively levied, in like manner a.s other duties collected under the 
authority of their respective legislatures are paid and applied. 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 269 

The second authorized the appointment of commissioners, 
with power to treat either with the constituted authorities, or 
with individuals in America ; provided that no stipulations en- 
tered into should have any effect until approved in Parliament. 
It then enacted, that the commissioners should have power 
to proclaim a cessation of hostilities in ail or any of the colo- 
nies, suspend the non-intercourse law, and so much of all or 
any of the acts, passed since the tenth of February, 1763, as 
related to the colonies. 

" To grant pardons to any number or descriptions of per- 
sons, and to appoint governors in those colonies in which his 
Majesty had formerly appointed them." 

The latter act was limited to the first day of June, 1779. 
These bills passed both houses of Parliament. 

As intelligence was received by the minister, about the time 
of their being introduced, that a treaty had been concluded 
between the United States and France, copies of these bijls, 
after their first reading, and before they had gone through the 
requisite forms, were hurried to America, to be laid before 
Congress and the public, in the hope that they might counter- 
act the effects which the treaty might produce. 

Washington, immediately on the arrival of the bills, trans- 
mitted them to Congress, to the end, that they might take them 
up and act on them. 

In the mean time. General Tryon, the British governor of 
New York, wrote to Washington, enclosing him a copy of the 
bills, and recommending to him, that through him they might 
be made known to the army under his command. 

Congress referred the bills to Messrs. Morris, Dana and 
Dayton, three of their body, who reported that the said bil]^ 
were intended to operate on the hopes and fears of the people 
of the United States, so as to create divisions among them, 
and a defection from the common cause, now drawing towards 
a favourable issue : And that any men, or body of men, who 
should presume to make any separate convention with the com- 
missioners of Great Britain, ought to be considered as enemies 
of the United States. 



270 HISTORY OF THE 

The committee further reported, that these United States 
could not with propriety hold any conference or treaty with the 
commissioners of Great Britain, unless they should either with- 
draw their armies and fleets, or else acknowledge the indepen- 
dence of these states. 

The committee concluded, by recommending to Congress to 
call on the several states to use their utmost exertions in bring- 
ing their respective quotas of troops into the field ; and that all 
the militia of the several states ought to hold themselves in rea- 
diness to act when called on. 

The foregoing report and the concurring resolutions of Con- 
gress were published. The next day Congress passed resolu- 
tions, recommending to the different states to pardon those of 
their countrymen who had taken up arms against the United 
States. 

During these transactions the French frigate La Sensible 
arrived with intelligence, that treaties of alliance and commerce 
had been formed between France and the United States. The 
joy which this event diffused throughout the country was un- 
bounded. 

France, the rival of Great Britain, had viewed with satisfac- 
tion the revolt of the United States and their success. She 
wished that the latter might be despoiled of her American pos- 
sessions, as she had been. Still France did not wish to enter 
into a war with Great Britain. 

Very early in the contest the attention of the American go- 
vernment had been directed to foreign powers, and particularly 
to France. The want of arms, ammunition, and clothing, had 
induced, in 1775, the appointment of agents to procure them 
abroad. 

Soon afterwards, Mr. Silas Deane was deputed to France, 
with instructions to sound the cabinet, and to procure military 
supplies. Mr. Deane obtained a sufficient quantity to load 
three vessels, but owing to the influence of the British minister 
at the court of Versailles, he was prevented from forwarding 
them to America. 

The declaration of independence in America, however, had 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 271 

a favourable effect in France. Supplies for carrying on the 
war were privately furnished. The French court, as it foresaw 
that an acknowledgment of American independence would 
occasion a rupture with Great Britain, declined entering 
into a treaty. In the mean time, the American ships were per- 
mitted to enter the French ports, and every facility was given 
to obtain munitions of war. Mr. Deane was told, that an ac- 
knowledgment of our independence, unaccompanied with war, 
would be of no service, and that if France should be compelled 
to make war on Great Britain, it would be much more honour- 
able to make it on some other account, and if made at all, it 
was the same thing to the United States. 

Thus F'rance declined taking any part in the quarrel, but 
gave assurances that the indulgencies heretofore allowed would 
be continued. The Americans continued to ship military stores. 
The British minister remonstrated. The court of France for- 
bid the vessels sailing, although it afterwards privately permit- 
ted them to sail. Orders were issued, that American prizes 
should not be sold in the ports of France, and afterwards the 
orders were countermanded, or not carried into effect. 

The treaty concluded with France was very advantageous to 
the United States. It was a treaty of alliance, eventual and de- 
fensive, between the two nations, in which it was declared, that 
if war should break out between France and Great Britain 
during the existence of that with the United States, it should be 
made a common cause, and that neither of the contracting par- 
ties should conclude either truce or peace with Great Britain, 
without the consent of the other. 

In a few weeks after the treaty was consummated, the Mar- 
quis de Noailles announced it to the court of St. James. The 
British government considered this notification as a declaration 
of war, and forthwith published a memorial, justifying hostili- 
ties against France. 

The Congress, on receiving the dispatches containing the 
treaties, convened and ratified them by a unanimous vole. — 
Congress passed a resolution, expressive of their high consider- 
ation of his most Christian Majesty's magnanimity. 



272 HISTORY OF THE 

« 

From events which were the sources of unbounded exultation 
in the United States, it is necessary to direct the attention o( 
the reader to the condition of the prisoners. 

In modern times custom and usage have introduced laws, in 
relation to carrying on war and treating prisoners, which were 
unknown to the ancients. In wars, therefore, between inde- 
pendent states, the laws do not sanction the laying waste of a 
country, the murder and captivity of its inhabitants, or the 
taking of private property without pay. Mor do they sanction 
bad treatment to such as are taken prisoners in the service of 
the state. In wars between nations possessing independence 
and acknowledged rights, a departure from established custom 
and usage, seldom occurs ; but in wars between the members 
of different parts of the same state, the customs and usages of 
war are often departed from. Those in favour of government, 
or the ancient order of things, consider resistance as rebellion, 
and look on the prisoners as traitors, whose lives are forfeited. 
In the contest between the United States and Great Britain, 
which was a contest of right on the part of America, the people 
of America never admitted that the British government was 
justified in departing from the common usages of war. They 
expected that those whom chance might throw in the power of 
the enemy, would be treated in every respect according to mo- 
dern usage. In this respect their expectations were not realiz- 
ed. Perhaps the treatment of some of the loyalists by the 
Americans may have led to a severity on the part of the enemy, 
which would not have been exercised under different circum- 
stances. Neither General Howe nor Lord Howe appear, from 
their general conduct or sentiments, to have possessed that fe- 
rocity of temper, or that furious and bigotted zeal, which could 
induce them to increase wantonly the miseries of the wretched, 
or to dispense, in the case of American prisoners, with an ob- 
servance of the rights of humanity, yet there were facts which 
authorize a belief, that some of the subordinate officers under 
them did bury the milder feelings which belong to man, in order 
to increase the miseries of the unfortunate persons who were in 
their power. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 273 

Tlie misrortiines of the American prisoners was lioiglitoncd 
by a disagreement between the commanders, in relation to tlie 
•excljange. 

Their sufferings increased, with tlie increasing severity of 
the season. And to add still more to it, their country had not 
furnished them with clothing and blankets, and they were by 
no means supplied with wood. They suflered equally from fa- 
mine. Repeated remonstrances wi've made to the British ge- 
neral on this subject, but he denied the fact. At length, how- 
ever, a partial exchange of prisoners was agreed upon, but by 
far the greater number was detained, in consequence of an im- 
politic resolution of Congress, winch Washington, with much 
difficulty, got repealed. 

About the middle of March, General Howe detached Colonel 
Mawhood, from Philadelphia, into New Jersey', with twelve 
hundred men. These landed at Salem, near Ileedy Island, 
and dispersed the militia under Colonels Hand and Holme. 
The enemy, in this expedition, committed great depredations. 

Not long after the incursion into New-Jersey, General Howe 
planed an expedition against General Lacy, who guarded the 
roads leading to Philadelphia, on the north side of the Schuyl- 
kill. This expedition he entrusted to Colonel Abercronibie, 
who, surprised tiiat general and his militia, and entirely dispers- 
ed them. The enemy soon after destroyed several vessels at 
Bordentown in New-Jersey, together with the stores collected 
at that place. 

In May Washington sent the Marquis de La Fayette, from 
Valley Forge, with upwards of two thouand men, to anno_y the 
rear of the British arniy, should they evacuate Philadelphia. 
La Fayette marched to Barren Hill, about nine miles distant, 
where he took post. General Howe, on being apprised ol this 
movement, detached General Grant with five thousand men to 
surprise and cut him off. That general proceeded by night, 
with the utmost secrecy, on the road leading up the Delaware 
for a short distance ; when leaving it, he advanced upon the rear 
of the Marquis, which placed him in a perilous condition. The 

VOL. III. 35 



274 ' HISTORY OF THE 

latter, however, on obtaining intelligence of this, retired imme- 
diately to Matson's Ford, on the Schuylkill, and repassed thai 
river, and encamped on the high grounds. Grant, finding him* 
sell /'oiled, fell back upon Philadelphia, 

About this time General Howe was succeeded in the com- 
mand by Sir Henry Clinton, who made dispositions tor the 
evacuation of Philadelphia. The preparations for this move- 
ment were soon made known to Washington, who called in 
without delay all his detachments, and placed his army in a 
situation to march at any moment. As hoon as it was ascer- 
tained that Sir Henry Clinton intended to reach New-York, by 
passing through New-Jersey, Washington ordered General 
]Maxwell, with the New- Jersey brigade, to cross the river Dela- 
ware, and join Major-general Dickenson, who was assembling 
the militia of the latter state. 

On the eighteenth of June the British troops left Philadel- 
phia, passed the Delaware, and encamped at Gloucester Point 
in New-Jersey. On being informed of this, Washington de- 
camped ^rom Valley Forge, and proceedt-d by forced marches 
to the Delaware, which he crossed on the twenty-second of the 
sa'ue month, and encamped at Hopewell. While at the latter 
place, Colonel Morgan was commanded to go with his riflemen 
and assault the right flank of the K ritish army. 

Sir Henry Clinton was now encamped at Allentown. Hope- 
well, where the main body of the American army was, is about 
five miles from Princeton. Tlie Generals Maxwell and Dicken- 
son, with their troops, hung on the left flank of the enemy, while 
General Cadwallader, with one thousand men, lagged on their 
rear. On the twenty- fourth of June, Washington marched from 
Hopewell, in order to give battle to the British. The Generals 
Scott and Wayne were already sent on, with strong detachments, 
to strengthen those who were on the lines. On the twenty-fifth 
and twenty-sixth, dispositions were made for a grand battle. 
The continentals, now in front of the main army, were four 
thousand men, and were under the Marquis La Fayette. Wash- 
ington directed the Marquis to form a junction with the Gene- 
rals Scott and Dickenson, and then attack the van of the ene» 



gTATE OF KEW-VOKK. 275 

luy's army, while on the march. On the twenty-seventh, 
General Lee was tletach'r'cl with two brigades to reinlorce the 
Marquis, and assume the command. The main army also 
moved forwaru at ilie same time. 

Sir Henry Clinton, anticipating the designs of Washington, 
encamped ou the high gionnds about Mtmmouth court-house, 
his right wing being protected by a small wood and a marsh 
extending in the direction of his rear, and iiis left by woods. 
His front was covered by a wood and a morass, which rendered 
his position very strong. The object of Washington was to 
attack his rear the moment he should move lorward with his 
army. General Lee was commanded to be in readiness to at- 
tack the rear of the enemy, whenever he should quit his present 
position. The same commands were sent to the generals who 
hovered on the rear. Such were the dispositions. On the 
twenty-eighth of June, about five in the morning, Washington 
received intelligence that the front of the enemy's army was in 
motion. The American troops were immediately put under 
arms, and orders were sent to General Lee to move on and 
commence the attack. 

Sir Henry Clinton, perceiving that the whole American army 
was near by, placed his baggage under the care of General 
Knyphausen, whom he sent on, while he, with the main army, 
unincumbered, was to follow him. About eight in the morn- 
ing the main army descended from the high grounds into the 
plain, where it took up its line of march in rear of the advance. 

General Lee appeared on the heights of Freehold soon after 
the enemy had left them, and pursuing them into the plain, 
directed General Wayne to assault their covering in the rear, 
so as to halt them. Meanwhile he proposed to gain their front 
by a nearer road on their left, and entirely intercepting their 
communication with the line, bear them ofi' before they could 
be assisted. Before he arrived at the point of destination, con- 
tradictory information was brought to him concerning the num- 
ber of the enemy, which perplexed him considerably, and put 
him in doubt how to act. The country being mostly covered 
with woods, prevented him Irom seeing the enemy, in order to 



276 HISTORY OF THE - 

form an opinion which might enable him how to confliict him- 
self, 'riuis cirrumsianced, he deenied it most advisable to re- 
connoitre them in person, to tlie end, that he might come to a 
conclusion. 

Sir Henr}' Clinton, shortly after the rear division was in full 
inarch, obtained intelligence that a party of Americans was on 
his left flank. Tin, induced him to halt, for the purpose of sup- 
porting the left ilank and driving the Americans back. 1 his 
benig effected, he resumed his march, when his rear-guard was 
attacked by a strong corps. Believing that Washington had 
formed a design of seising his baggage, he determined, in order 
to si^cure it from the danger that threatened it, to attack the 
corps in his rear with all his disposable force, so vigorou^l) as 
to compel the commander of tlie Americans to call off those on 
his flanks. To effect this, he made a retrograde movement, 
while General Lee was reconnoitreing in order to ascertain his 
numbers. This was about ten o'clock. While both were pre- 
paring for action. General Scott, who commanded under Lee, 
mistook an oblique movement of one of the American columns 
for a retreat, and in the apprehension of being abandoned, he 
fell back. Lee did not correct this error made by Scott, but 
ordered the whole corps, amounting to five thousand men, to 
retrograde, and gain possession of the heights which they had 
just passed. The enemy pressed forward upon Lee, and began 
a brisk fire, which was reciprocated without much effect. 

When the first firing announced the commencement of the 
action, the main ar-ny, under Washington, advanced with 
celerity to support the corps under General Lee. As it ap- 
proached the scene of action, it met the corps of Lee in full re- 
treat. Washington, being greatly astonished at this, rode to 
the rear of the corps, where he found General Lee, and disap- 
prnbated liis conduct. He gave instant orders to the colonels 
Stewart and Ramsay to form their regiments, and check the 
enemy, who were tlten in full pursuit. He also ordered Lee to 
make <iispositions with the residue of his corps, and stop the 
British on that very ground. These orders were executed, and 
a sharp conflict ensued, which terminated somewhat in favour 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 277 

oflheenrmyi While this matter was going on, Washington 
put tlie main army in order of battle. Lord Sterling com- 
manded the left wing, and General Greene the right, the centre 
of the army being under the Generalin-chief, in person. In 
this manner the army moved forward and attacked the enemy's 
advancing columns, and compelled them to fall back. Sir 
Henry ('linton, on seeing this, formed his army on strong 
ground, his flanks being secured by close woods and deep 
marshes. The fugitives were rallied and re-formed, and dis- 
positions were made for a general engagement. Washington, 
notwithstanding the bad conduct of General Lee, and the pre- 
sent strong position of the enemy, resolved, if possible, to dis- 
lodge them, and compel them to a general battle. For this 
purpose he ordered General Poor to gain and turn their right 
flank, and General Woodford to turn their left flank ; but be- 
fore these orders could be carried into efiect, night came on, 
and he was obliged to defer the action until the next morning. 
Poor and Woodford continued with their brigades on the ground 
through the night, while the main army lay upon their arras, to 
be in readihess to act as circumstances might require. 

In the mean time, Sir Henry Clinton, after having caused 
his wounded to be removed, drew ofl" the British army with such 
silence, that it was not known to Washington before dawn of 
day. As it was manifest that the enemy would gain the high 
grounds about Middletown, before the American army could 
overtake them ; and as it was manifest that they could not be 
attacked to advantage on those grounds ; and as the battle 
already fought, had resulted in such a manner, as to make a 
favourable impression to the American arms, it was deemed 
inexpedient to continue the pursuit. Washington having left 
the New-Jersey brigade, Morgan's corps, and some light troops, 
to watch the motions of the enemy, cut off their foraging par- 
ties, and protect the country, moved the main body of his army 
to the Hudson, and took a position which effectually covered 
the passes of the Highlands or iMatteawan mountains. 

Both parties claimed the victory at Monmouth. The advan- 
tage, however, was decidedly with the Americans. The facts 



278 HISTORY OF THE 

seem to be these : — in the early part of the day, the British pre- 
vailed, in consequence of the bad conduct ot General Lee, who 
fell back without any apparent cause, but in the after part, the 
Americans rallied, and repulsed the r»»)'al army, and were only 
prevented by the night coming on, from reaping a complete 
victory. The commander of the British army was too sensible 
of this to wait till day, and then hazard an action. The loss 
of the enemy, in their retreat from Philadelphia to New- York, 
was nearly two thousand men, one thousand of whom were 
deserters. 

The conduct of General Lee was universally condemned. 
He was arrested, tried, and suspended from his command for 
one year, in consequence thereof 

Congress was so highly gratified with the success which 
attended the American arms at Monmouth, that they passed a 
resolution of thanks to the commander-in-chief and his armj'. 

Before Washington reached the ground, that he designed to 
occupy in the vicinity of the Highlands, the Count D'Estaing, 
with a powerful French fleet, appeared ofl' the northern extre- 
mity of the coast of Virginia. He had sailed from Toulon in 
France, on the thirteenth of April, with twelve ships of the line 
and six frigates, having on board a considerable body of land 
forces. On reaching the Capes of Delaware Bay. he announced 
his arrival to Congress. Learning that the enemy had quitted 
Delaware Bay with their fleet, he proceeded along the coast to 
Sandy Hook, in order to attack the British fleet. Here he 
continued eleven days, and then put out to sea, and sailed to 
Newport in Rhode Island. This was in pursuance of a plan 
entered into with Washington, to attack the British troops in 
that state. 

Sir Henry Clinton, soon after his arrival at New York, being 
apprehensive for the safety of the troops at Newport, sent re- 
inforcements to General Pigot, who commanded at that place, 
which increased the army under that general, to six thousand 
men. 

General Sullivan, who was over the American forces in 
Rhode Island, had now directions to call on the New England 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 279 

States, to furnish ti; ir quotas of militia, in order to enable him, 
in conjdnctlori witli the fount D'Esiaing, to attempt the ex- 
pulsion of uio piumy froui that state. Washington, in the 
mean time, deta* bed the Marquis de La Fayette, with two 
brigades to join Sullivan. 

At this time, the main body of the enemy lay in Newport, 
a town situated on the west of the isthmus, which connects the 
southern with the northern, and principal part of the island, and 
which was delended by a chain of redoubts, stretching almost 
across the island from east to west and by batteries facing the wa- 
ter. Some other works, occupied by small detachments, had been 
constructed at the north end of the island, to prevent a descent 
from the continent ; and three regiments on Connanicut Island, 
lying a little westwardiy of Newport. The Americans under 
Sullivan, lay on the main about Providence. 

There are three entrances to Rhode Island. One to the east 
called Seaconnet ; another on the west of the island, between it 
and Connanicut, called the main channel ; and a third on the 
west of Connanicut, called the west or Narragansett passage. 
Each of these passages was guarded by several frigates and 
galleys, which the enemy destroyed, to prevent their falling into 
the hands of the French, who stationed some ships of war, both 
in the Seaconnet and Narragansett passages, while their fleet 
blocked up the main channel, by anchoring at its mouth. 
General Sullivan went on board the admiral's ship, soon after 
the arrival of the fleet, where a plan of operations was concerted, 
between him and the Count D'Estaing. 

General Pigot immediately after this, drew off" the troops 
from Connanicut Island, and concentrated all his forces about 
Newport. 

According to the plan of altack concerted between Sullivan 
and D'Estaing, the French fleet was to enter the harbour, and 
land the troops of his Christian Majesty, on the west side of the 
island. The Americans were to land at the same time on the 
opposite coast. To be in readiness for the execution of this 
plaiii General Greene marched on the sixth of August, a 



280 HISTORY OF THE 

detachment of continental and state troops, with some milUia 
to Tiverton, wliich lies on the east side of the east channel. 

JMeanwhile the aids from New-York, under the Marquis de 
La Fayette, arrived. As the militia of Massachusetts and New 
Hampshire, who were principally volunteers, approached. Gene- 
ral Sullivan joined General Greene ; and it was agreed that the 
fleet should enter the main channel immediately, and that the 
descent should be made the following day. 

In execution of this plan, the ships of war entered the chan- 
nel and passed into the harbour. Thfe militia not arrivinpj at 
the time expected. General Sullivan desired the Count D'Estaing 
to postpone the attack another day. The enemy recalled his 
troops by night from the north end of the island into his lines 
at Newport. On discovering this in the morning, Sullivan 
crossed the east passage, and landed on the north end of the 
island. 

About this time a British fleet appeared, which after sailing 
close into the land, and communicating with General Pigot, 
withdrew some distance, and came to anchor oflf Point Judith. 

The next morning the Count D-Estaing put out to sea, in 
order to give battle to the British fleet. Lord Flowe, who com- 
manded it, on seeing this, weighed anchor and also put out to 
sea. He was followed by the French fleet, and both were soon 
out of sight. 

The departure of the French fleet considerably disconcerted 
the plan of operations. General Sullivan, however, being re- 
inforced with the militia, resolved, on the fifteenth of August, to 
commence the siege of Newport ; and for this purpose marched 
within three miles of the town and encamped. The succeeding 
morning the siege was commenced, and continued for some 
days. The two fleets, soon after they had gone out to sea, 
were dispersed by a violent storm, in which they sustained great 
damages. 

The fleet of the French, upon this disaster, returned to New- 
port, from whence it sailed for Boston, declining a co-operation 
with the Americans. The injuries sustauied from the storm,. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 281 

and the iarormiiiion received, that Admiral Byron had arrived 
on the American coast with a lleet, induced the Count to take 
t|jis course. 

No hope remaining of carrying on the siege wiili success, 
General Sullivan came to the determination of abandoning it, 
and withdrawing to the north end of the island. 

In the night of the twenty-eighth of August, General Sul- 
livan decamped in great silence, and took post at the north end 
of the island, pursuant to the foregoing resolution. The enemy 
the next morning followed him, and attacked the rear, under 
the Colonels Livingston and Laurens, but without much effect. 
The Americans made a stand at their camp. The British fornL- 
ed in order of battle on Quaker Hill, something more than a 
mile distant. In this position the two armies cannonaded each 
other for some time, and several skirmishes were fought in the 
intermediate space, between small parties. About two o'clock 
the enemy in force attempted to turn the right flank, and niade 
dispositions of an intention to dislodge the right wing under 
General Greene. 

Four regiments were moved forward to meet them, but these 
not being strong enough to check them. General Greene ad- 
vanced, with two other regiments and a brigade of militia, to 
their support, when the action for a short time was very warm. 
Colonel Livingston's regiment being ordered up to reinforce 
Greene, the enemy were compelled to retire. The cannonade 
was then renewed and kept up till night. In this action the 
Americans displayed great firmness and bravery. The loss on 
the side of the Americans was two hundred and eleven men, 
and that on the side of the enemy two hundred and sixty, ac- 
cording to the account of their general. 

Shortly afterwards, General Sullivan, on learning that Sir 
Henry Clinton was on his way to join General Pigot, with four 
thousand men, brought off his army to the continent, where he 
took a position. 

Sir Henry Clinton, finding that General Sullivan had retired 
to the main, and that there was no prospect of attacking him 
with success, returned with his fleet of transports towards New- 
VOL. HI, 36 



282 HISTORY OF the 

York, as far as New London in Connecticut. Against this:' 
place he had contemplated an expedition, but finding the winds 
unfavourable to his entering the river Thames, on which the 
town stands, he left the fleet and proceeded to New- York, leav- 
ing the troops on board the transports with General Gray, whom 
he directed to take the town and other places, as far eastward a? 
Buzzard's Bay. 

Gray, after his departure, entered the Thames and destroyed 
several privateers and merchantmen. The towns of Bedford 
and Fairhaven, in which w'ere military stores, were mostly re- 
duced to ashes. The troops re- embarked the next day, before 
the militia could be assembled in sufficient force to oppose them, 
and sailed to Martha's Vineyard, where they destroyed a num- 
ber of vessels and some salt works, and levied on the inhabi- 
tants a heavy contribution. While so large a detachment of 
the British force was committing depredations on the coasts of 
New England, there were in the city of New-York indications 
of an intention to carry on some distant expedition. In order 
to be in readiness to oppose a combined attack by sea and land 
on the French fleet, without exposing the passes on the Hudson 
to the enemy, General Gates was directed, with three brigades, 
to proceed to Danbury in Connecticut, and there await further 
orders. The camp at VVhite Plains, in the county of Westches- 
ter, was about the same time broken up, and the main army 
under Washingion took a position at Fredericksburgh, which is 
further north. General Putnam was detached with two bri- 
gades to the vicinity of West Point. 

Soon afterwards the troops under General Gray returned, and 
also the squadron under Lord Howe, which removed all appre- 
hensions respecting the French fleet. 

The British army, on the twenty-seventh of September, moved 
up from the city of New-York on each side of the Hudson in 
considerable force. The troops on the west, under Lord Corn- 
wallis, consisting of five thousand men, took a position with its 
riglti on the Hudson, extending to Newbridge on the Hacken- 
sack ; while those on the east sid* of the river, under General 
K-nyphausen, amounting to three thousand, advanced about the 



STATE OF NE\V-Y(Jl{K. 283 

same distance and extended themselves from that river to the 
Bronx. The possession of the Hudson enabled the troops un- 
der these generals to re-unite, in case it should be necessary. 

Colonel Baylor, on the morning of tiiat day, had marched 
from Paramus in New-Jersey to Horringtown in Rockland, 
with his regi^nent of cavalry, where he encamped. Immediate 
notice of this was given to Cornwallis, who formed the design 
of cutting him off. To this end he detached General Gray, 
who being conducted by some of the inhabitants, surprised the 
regiment, and put most of the men to death, although no resis- 
tance was offered, and quarters were asked. 

The cruelty used by the enemy on this occasion, excited no 
slight degree of horror and indignation. Soon after this. Count 
Pulaski, on his way from Trenton in New-Jersey to Little Egg 
Harbour, was surprised, and forty of his infantry bayoneted, 
without allowing quarter. The Count, however, opportunely 
escaped with his cavalry. 

As soon as Admiral Byron, who reached New-York and 
took command of the British fleet, about the middle of Septem- 
ber, had made the repairs to his shattered squadron, which were 
necessary to enable him again to put to sea, he sailed for the 
port of Boston, for the purpose of blocking up the Count 
D'Estaing, and of availing himself of the first opportunity 
which might favour an attack on the French fleet. He had 
been but a short time, however, in the bay, before a furious 
storm came on and drove him out to sea, and damaged his ships 
so much, that he was obliged to put into Newport in Rhode 
Island in order to refit. This favourable moment was seized 
by Count D'Estaing, and he set sail on the third day of No- 
vember for the West Indies. 

Thus terminated, without any material advantage, an expe- 
dition concerning the success of which sanguine hopes had not, 
without reason, been entertained. A variety of accidents had 
defeated plans judiciously formed, having every probability of 
success in their favour. The original object of the armament, 
to the attainment of which it was entirely competent, was the 
British fleet in the Delaware and the army in Philadelphia. 



^84 . HISTORY OF THE 

But a passage from Toulon, of most extraordinary length, oti 
which it was impossible to have calculated, detained it at sea, 
until the enemy's fleet and army had withdrawn. By a very 
few days too, the opportunity of finding Lord Howe without 
the bar at Sandy Hook, and of obstructing the passage of Sir 
Henry CImton from the continent to the Hook, was lost. Nor 
was the departure of D'Estaing from Sandy Hook, less un- 
propitious ; for within eight days after his leaving that station, 
four ships of the line, belonging to the enemy, came in singly, 
and which, in all probability, had they reached their destination 
sooner, would have fallen into his hands. This reinforcement 
was the more essential, as without it Lord Howe could not 
have ventured to molest the operations against Rhode Island. 

The storm which parted the fleets, in the moment when an 
engagement was beginning, with the advantage of the wind, 
and a superiority of force on the side of the French, which dis- 
masted and unfitted for service the admiral's ship, and some 
others, was an untoward event, and ellectually defeated the en- 
terprise against Rhode Island. So much are the best laid plans 
dependant on accident. 

As there was very little prospect of an active winter cam- 
paign, in the northern or middle states, Sir Henry Clinton sent 
General Grant to the West India Islands, with five thousand 
men. Not long after, a detachment under Colonel Campbell, 
escorted by Commodore Parker, was sent to the southern states. 

The main American army, in December, retired into win- 
ter-quarters, on both sides of the Hudson, about West Point, 
and at Viddlebrook in New-Jersey, while the light troops were 
stationed near the lines. The cavalry were ordered into the 
anterior to recruit. 

The troops again wintered in huts, and though not well 
clothed, their condition in that respect was much meliorated 
by supplies from France. 

About the time that Commodore Parker sailed for the 
southern states, the commissioners appointed to give eflect to 
the late conciliation acts of Parliament, embarked for Europe. 
They had exerted their utmost powers to effect the objects of 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 285 

their mission without success. The terms offered by them were 
such as, at one time, America would cheerlully hauc accepted ; 
but they required a union of the force of the two nations, un- 
der one common sovereign. These, however, were terms to 
which America was no longer disposed, or at liberty to accede 
to. All those afleciions, which parts of the same empire ought 
to feel for each other, had been eradicated by war ; the great 
body of the American people was now determined, at every 
sacrifice, to maintain their independence ; and the alliance 
with France had bound them by principles of honour and na- 
tional faith, never to consent to a re-union with the British 
empire. 

The commissioners arrived prior to the evacuation of Phila- 
delphia by Sir Henry Clinton. They were instructed, among 
other things, to make the following propositions : — 

" To consent to a cessation of hostilities, both by sea and 
land. 

'« To restore free intercourse, to revive mutual affection, and 
renew the common benefits of naturalization, through the sev- 
eral parts of the empire. 

" To extend every freedom to trade, that the respective in- 
terests of Britain and America could require. 

" To agree that no military forces should be kept up in 
North America, without the consent of the general Congress ot 
particular assemblies. 

'♦ To concur in measures calculated to discharge the debts 
of America, and to raise the credit and value of the paper cir- 
culation. 

" To perpetuate the union, by a reciprocal deputation of an 
agent or agents, who shall have the privilege of a seat and voice 
in the parliament of Great Britain, or if sent from Britain, to 
have a seat and voice in the assemblies of the different colonies 
to which they may be deputed respectively, in order to attend 
the several interests of those by whom they may be deputed. 

" In short, to establish the power of the respective legisla- 
tures in each particular colony, to settle its revenue in civil and 
military establishments, and to exercise a perfect freedom in 



286 HISTORY OF THE 

legislation and internal government, so that the British colonies 
throughout North America, acting with Great Britain in peace 
and war, under one common sovereign, may have the irrevoca- 
ble enjoyment of every privilege short of a total separation of 
hiterests, or consistent with the union of force, on which the 
safety of their common religion and liberty depends." 

Such were the propositions made, but the time for a com- 
pliance on the part of America had passed. The enemy had 
brought on the people such great and manifold calamities, that 
nothing short of an absolute acknowledgment of independence 
could be acquiesced in. 

In the month of July, while the commissioners were endea- 
vouring to bring about a reconciliation between Great Britain 
and America, the Sieur Girard arrived at Philadelphia, in the 
character of minister plenipotentiary of his most Christian Ma- 
jesty. The joy produced by this event was unbounded. On 
notice of his being in the Delaware, Congress appointed a com- 
mittee to wait on him in order to congratulate him. He was 
soon afterwards admitted to an audience. 

The reception of a minister from the most powerful nation in 
Europe, being among the first and most important events of in- 
dependence, was alike new and gratifying to the people of the 
United States. 

While these things were going on, the war raged on the wes- 
tern frontiers in its most savage form. Considerable solicitude 
had been felt by Congress to engage the Indians on the fron- 
tiers, either to take part with the Americans in the war or to 
observe a neutrality. In the first stages of the war, many of 
them evinced a disposition not unfriendly to the United States, 
but the inability of the government to furnish them with such 
articles as they had been in the habit of receiving gratuitously, 
compared with the presents they obtained from Montreal, and 
the posts held by the enemy on the lakes, soon decided them to 
take part with Britain. Early in 1778, there were many indi- 
cations of an inclination on their part to make war on the Unit- 
ed States and the frontiers, from the Mohawk to the Ohio, were 
menaced with the tommahawk and scalping knife. Every re* 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 287 

presentation from the country concurred in the opinion, that a 
war with the Indians ought to be carried into their country, in 
order to humble them, and coerce them into a peace. The 
hostilities already manifested, were in a measure occasioned by 
Colonel Hamilton, the governor of Detroit, and some other 
persons in the employ of the British government. Against 
Detroit, therefore, an expedition was resolved on by Congress. 
General M'Intosh, who commanded at Pittsburgh, was directed 
to prepare for carrying on the expedition, with three thousand 
men. To accelerate the success of this enterprise, and the 
sooner to reduce the hostile tribes to submission, another was 
resolved on against the Senecas. The officer commanding on 
the east side of the Hudson, was instructed to take measures to 
carry this resolution into effect. 

Unfortunately these resolutions could not be carried into exe- 
cution, partly on account of a want of means, and partly on ac- 
count of the states not co-operating. Hence the frontiers re- 
mained exposed until the storm burst upon them. 

The scene of greaiest misery and devastation was Wyoming, 
in the state of Pennsylvania. This is a district of country lying 
on both sides of the Susquehannah, and was settled by emigrants 
from Connecticut. The district contained about eleven hun- 
dred families, and had furnished nearly one thousand men for 
the continental army, besides garrisons for the forts which the 
people had erected for their security. Unfortunately they had 
not been exempted from political divisions, which, when carried 
to excess, destroy those affections which attach members of the 
same family to each other, and plant the most deadly hate. 

While the great body of the settlement joined their country- 
men in the existing contest, some few adhered to the royal 
cause. Encouraged by their distance from the military force 
of the nation, and stimulated by their neighbours in Canada, 
they did not conceal the motives they had in view, and having 
experienced severity, many of them were induced to take refuge 
among the Indians, or at the posts occupied by the British. 
Their numbers gradually increased, and with these their resent- 
ment. At their head was Colonel /ohn Butler, the cousin of 



288 HISTORY OF THE 

Colonel Zebulon Butler, who was commander of the militia of 
Wyoming. 

The comm«ncement of the year had furnished indications of 
hostile designs, on the part of the Indians ; but as the time 
drew near, when the blow, they meditated, was to be given, the 
artful policy of lulling those into security against whom it was 
directed, was resorted to. Several messengers came in from 
the hostile tribes, charged with assurances of their peaceful dis- 
positions, and Colonel John Butler declared, in an assemblage 
of savages, that he was about to withdraw to Detroit. Their 
designs, however, were suspected, and the inhabitants, for their 
own safety, took refuge in their forts. 

On theiirst of July, a body, supposed to be nearly one thou- 
sand six hundred strong, composed of Indians and lories, who 
were painted like savages, under the command of Colonel John 
Butler, burst into the district of Wyoming, and obtained pos- 
session of one of the two upper forts without opposition. The 
other was taken. The two principal forts, Kingston and Wilks- 
barre, were near each other, on opposite sides of the Susqehan- 
nah. Colonel Zebulon Butler, with the greatest part of the 
armed men of the district, and a number of women and children, 
took refuge in Kingston. After rejecting a summons to sur- 
render, he proposed a parley, and a place at some distance from 
the fort was agreed upon for a meeting of the chiefs. He 
marched out with four hundred men to the place appointed, 
where no person was found on the part of the enemy ; but at a 
still greater distance from the fort, at the foot of the mountain, 
a flag was exhibited, which retired, as he approached, as if ap- 
prehensive of danger from the Americans. 

Colonel Zebulon Butler continued to advance until he found 
himself almost surrounded by the enemy, who rose and fired on 
him. His troops, in this emergency, displayed great firmness 
and bravery, and would, in all likelihood, have beaten them 
back, and made good their retreat to the fort, had not one of 
the men exclaimed, in a loud voice, " The colonel has ordered a 
retreat." Instant confusion ensued, and the militia fled towards 
the river, which they endeavoured to cross, in order to gain 



STATE OF i\EW-YORK. 2S9 

the fort called Wilksbarre. The enemy pursued with the rage 
of demons, and of the four hundred that had marched out on 
this party, only about twenty escaped. Fort Kingston was in- 
vested, and to increase the terror of the garrison, and impress 
on them ideas of their horrible situation, the bleeding scalps 
of their murdered countrymen were sent in for their inspection. 

Colonel Zebulon Butler, having withdrawn himself and his 
family down the river, Colonel Dennison, the commanding officer 
went out with a flag, to enquire of the commander of the enemy 
what terms would be allowed on their surrendering the fort — 
uniting to Spartan brevity, more than Cannibal ferocity, this 
tutored savage answered in two words — " the hatchet^ 

Having lost great part of the garrison, and being unable to 
hold out longer. Colonel Dennison surrendered at discretion. 
The threat of Colonel John Butler was executed. After se- 
lecting a k\v prisoners, the great body of the people in the fort 
were inclosed in the houses, when fire was applied to them and 
they were consumed together. 

Colonel John Butler then passed over the river to Wilksbar- 
re, which surrendered immediately. The continental soldiers, 
amounting to seventy, were hacked to pieces. The remainder, 
consisting of the inhabitants, shared the same fate that their 
brethren had at Kingston. 

All show of resistance was now termired, but the ruin con- 
templated was not yet complete. Near three thousand per- 
sons had escaped. Flying without money, clothes or food, 
they sought for safety in the interior of the country. To pre- 
vent their returning, every thing remaining behind was destroy- 
ed. Fire and the tommahawk were alternately applied ; and 
all the houses and improvements, which the labour of years had 
made, as well as every living animal whicJi could be found, 
were destroyed. The houses and settlements of the tories alone 
were preserved. 

The devastators of Wyoming withdrew before the arrival of 
the continental troops detached against them, could reach the 
place. 

To cover and protect the w hole frontier of the United States 

VOL. irt. 37 



290 IllSTORV OF THE 

was impossible. Particular districts were therefore exposed to 
all the calamities incidental to savage warfare. Worn out by 
daily calls into tlie field, the militia every where solicited to be 
relieved and protected by the continental troops. Their appli- 
cations were often necessarily resisted, and the continentals dis- 
tributed in such manner as would best promote the great ob- 
ject of the contest. The sufferings of Uie frontiers, however, 
were now such, and the danger which menaced them was so 
imminent, that it became necessary to spare for their defence a 
more considerable portion of the army, than had been allotted 
to that part of the union, since the ca})ture of Burgoyne. Co- 
lonel Hartley's regiment, and two companies of militia, were 
ordered, on the first intelligence of the destruction of Wyoming, 
to repair thither. The colonel set out on an expedition against 
the Indian towns, some of which he destroyed, and made some 
prisoners ; but hearing that they were collecting in considera- 
able force, he thought it advisable to retreat. His rear was at- 
tacked, but the assailants were repulsed. 

The fourth Pennsylvania regiment, raised in the westenr 
frontier of that state, under the command of William Butler, 
a partisan of great merit, and the remnant of Morgan's rifle 
corps, led by Major Posey, were also detached to the assistance 
of the people of Schoharie. With his continentals and thirty 
rangers. Colonel Butler, in October, entered the enemy's conn- 
try, and after a march, attended with infinite labour and diffi- 
culty in crossing mountains and rivers, reached their towns at 
Oquago on the Susquehannah. These he destroyed, together 
with the corn and other things laid up for winter. Colonel 
Butler returned from Oquago by the Unadilla, and laid waste 
all the Indian towns on that river. Oquago is in the county 
of Broome, and was the head-quarters of the celebrated 
Brandt, an Indian, distinguished for courage. In this ex- 
pedition Colonel Butler had the good fortune not to fall in 
with any party of the enem}'. The loss of their towns and 
provisions compelled the enemy to withdraw to a greater dis- 
tance from the frontiers, which rendered their future inroad?, 
more difficult. 



STATE OF NEW-VOUK. S9i 

Peiitiing- these transactions, Colonel Ilaiiley informed Con- 
gress tliat the enemy were fortifying a phice at Chemung, a 
few miles from the mouth of the Cayuta, a stream falling into 
the busquehannah, at which place a considerable number of 
tories were collected. Chemung and Niagara were represent- 
ed to be the principal places of resort for those tories who 
could not reach the city of New-York. A resolution was 
passed, directing that measures should he taken for captur- 
ing Chemung, and for repressing the incursions of the savages 
on the frontiers of New-York, New-Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

The season of the year, however, had come on when the 
rains swell the streams so as to render them impassible ; in 
addition to which it was impossible to transport artillery unless 
roads should be opened, without which any attempt on the 
fortifications would have been unsuccessful. A council of gen- 
eral officers was therefore convened at Albanj', consisting of 
Generals Schuyler, Hand and Clinton, who, after taking all 
things into consideration, came to the conclusion that the en- 
terprise against Chemung ought to be deferred until the ensu- 
ing season. 

Before the expedition against Chemung was entirely relin- 
quished, a body of five hundred men, consisting of tories, In- 
dians and regulars, under Colonel Brandt, broke into Cherry 
Valley, where Colonel Alden was posted with a continental 
regiment. The colonel, quartering with a family, about half 
a mile from the fort, was surprised and killed with ten or 
twelve soldiers and officers wjiom he had with him. The fort 
was then assaulted; but a resolute defence being made, the 
enemy desisted ; after which they laid the whole settlement 
waste, and murdered thirty-two of the inhabitans, mostly women 
and children. The cruelties committed by some of the royal- 
ists and Indians make humanity shudder. Not content with 
kiUing the inhabitants, they ripped open and quartered the 
women, and then suspended their mangled limbs on the branches 
of trees. The helpless infants they took from the breasts of 
ther mothers and dashed their brains out against posts. Hav- 
ing completed the destruction of Cherry Valley they retired. 



292 lilSTORY UF 'i'lIE 

While the frontiers of New-York and Pennsylvania were suf- 
fering all the miseries of savage warfare, a fate equally calam- 
itous seems to have been destined against the back settlements 
of Virginia. The militia of those settlements had made some 
successful incursions into the country northwest of the River 
Ohio, and had captured some British posts on the Mississippi- 
These were erected into a county called Illinois, and a regi- 
ment of infantry, with a troop of cavalr}', under Colonel Clark, 
were raised for its protection, 'i hese were divided'into sev- 
eral parties, the principal of which remained with Colonel 
Clark, at the village of Kaskaskias. Colonel Hamilton, the 
governor of Detroit, was at Fort St. Vincent on the Wabash, 
with about six hundred- men, mostly Indians, projecting an ex- 
pedition, first against Kaskaskias, and then against Pittsburgh, 
at the head of the Ohio ; after which he proposed to desolate 
the frontiers of Virginia. But Colonel Clark, anticipating his 
designs, resolved to attack the post of St. Vincent. He was 
induced to accelerate his enterprise, in consequence of informa- 
tion he obtained tiiat most of the Indians had been sent out 
by Colonel Hamilton, to block the Ohio and harass the border 
settlers. In the month of February he detached a galley, 
mounting two four-pounders, and four swivels, maimed with a 
company of soldiers, and having on board stores for his troops, 
which were to go by land, with orders to descend the Missis- 
sippi to the mouth of the Ohio, and ascend thence to the 
vicinity of St. Vincent, and there take a station, and await his 
arrival. Having arranged this part of his plan, he set out from 
Kaskaskias, with one hundred and thirty men, and after a 
march of sixteen days, through woods and morasses, he appear- 
ed before St. Vincent, which was garrisoned by eighty regulars, 
and began the siege. Hamilton finding it impossible to defend 
the place, surrendered himself and his garrison. 

This expedition, so happily carried into efl'ect, was of great 
importance to the frontier inhabitants of Virginia. It entirely 
disconcerted the plans concerted by the enemy, for carrying on 
the ensuing campaign in that quarter. Several tribes of In- 
dians made peace with the United States, while others were 
intimidated in no small degree. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 293 

Alter the war had broken out between France and Gf nt 
Britain, in the Autumn of 1778, Congress renewed the ph^n tor 
the invasion and conquest of Canada. This plan, had it been 
carried into effect, was to have been executed by the combined 
forces of France and America, both by sea and land. Con- 
gress in preparing this plan, did not considt a single comman- 
der, but preparation and execution are different things. Cabi- 
nets may easily prepare plans of operations, which cannot be 
carried into effect. The disasters which had attended the 
Americans in their first attempt to reduce that country, ougljt 
to have been suflicient admonitions to Congress not to make a 
second essay. 

It was resolved to march, as early as the first of June, two 
separate detachments of troops, consisting each of fifteen hun- 
dred infantry, and one thousand cavalry from Wyoming and 
Pittsburgh, to Niagara and Detroit. These corps were to de- 
stroy the towns belonging to the hostile Indian tribes, lying in 
their route. The troops, marching from Wyoming against Fort 
Niagara, were to be met at Oquago or its vicinity, by iiiteen 
hundred men, who were to be collected at the city of St henec- 
tady. A body of troops were to be stationed higher up the 
Mohawk, during the winter, for the purpose of procuring ma- 
terials for building boats. There they were to be reinforc* d 
in the spring, by two thousand five hundred men, and were to 
take possession of Oswego, and make excursions by water to- 
wards Niagara. Several regiments were to be cantoned on the 
upper parts of Connecticut river, so as to form a body or five 
thousand men, from whence they were to march to St. John's 
and Montreal, &.c. Such were a part of the paper plans of 
Congress. 

See Ramsey's History of the Revolutionary War, Marshall's Life of W'ashin^- 
ton, &c., also my second volume History State of New- York. 



294 HISTORY OF THE 



CHAPTER IX. 

Colonel Van Schaick marches from Fort Schuyler on the Mo- 
haiolc, against the Onondagas, on Onondaga Creek, and lays 
their settlements tvaste— Expedition against the Senecas — - 
General Sullivan marches ici'Ji three thousand men, from Eas- 
ton on the Dclaivare, to Tioga Point, at the confluence of Sus- 
quehannah and Tioga rivers — (Jcncral Clinton proceeds ivitli- 
one thousand men, from the Mohawk, to the outlet oj Otsego 
Lake, and thence doion the Susquehannah, to Tioga Point, 
and joins Sullivan — The Generals Sullivan and Clinton de- 
camp and advance up the Tioga — Battle near where Newton 
now is — Sullivan and Clinton resume their march, and reach 
■Genesee River — The Americans destroy the Indian towns, 
villages and cornfields along Genesee River — Colonel Broad- 
head invades the Indian settlements on the Alleghany River, 
and wastes them with f re — Colonel Brandt, the celebrated In- 
dian Chief, enters Minisitik in the county of Orange, and 
partly tvastes it — The militia of the town of Goshen, and the 
adjoining parts, pursue Colonel Brandt, but are surprised and 
defeated — The British make an incursion from New-York 
into Virginia, take Portsmouth and other places on Elizabeth 
and James'' Rivers, and destroy much property — The British, 
under Governor Tryon and Sir George Collyer, make an in- 
road into Connecticut, and burn Fairfield — Neiv Haven taken 
and yhindered — Skirmish betivcen the royal troops and the 
Americans at Reading — Incident of Putnam descending the 
precipice at that place on horseback — General Wayne, ivith a 
detachment of the American army, storms Stoney Point — Sir 
Menry Clinton sets out from New- York to retake Stoney Point 
— The Americans abandon it, after demolishing the works — 
Major Lee, with some Americans, surprises the British com- 
mandant at Powlcs^ Hook in Neiv- Jersey — Hostiliiies in the 
Southern states — Savannah in Georgia taken. — Nearly all of 



STATE OF NEW-YOKK. 295 

Georgia submits to the royal govcrmnent-^Colovel Pitkins 
defeats a body of tones—General Lincoln takes the command 
in the south— The British, under Colonel Provost, defeat 
the Americans under General Ash— Governor Rutledge arm- 
ed with dictatorial power— The British invade South Caro^ 
Una, and advance in sight of Charleston— General Lincoln 
compels the British to retire— Arrival of the Count D'Es- 
taing on the coast of Georgia— The Americans and French 
repulsed in an attempt to storm Savannah— Paper money- 
Its depreciation. 

1779.— Although the projected invasion of Canada was 
laid aside, yet several expeditions were undertaken, and carried 
into effect against the Indians, who infested the border settle- 
ments of New-York and Pennsylvania. General Schuyler was 
very instrumental in planning and getting these expeditions on 
foot. The first expedition undertaken was against the Onon- 
dagas, who dwelt on the creek of that name, about fifty-three 
miles westerly of Fort Schuyler, on the Mohawk. On the 
nineteenth of April, 1779, Colonel Goose Van Schaick, assisted 
by Lieutenant-colonel Willet and Major Cochran, with be- 
tween five and six hundred men, commenced his march from 
the latter place, for Onondaga, which he reached on the morn- 
ing of the third day. The Onondagas not apprehending a 
visit at this season of the year, were entirely unprepared, and 
fled to the woods on the first appearance of the Americans ; 
twelve, however, were killed, arid thirty-four made prisoners iri 
the flight. Colonel Van Schaick caused all their houses and 
provisions to be burned, and the whole settlement, extending 
eight miles along the creek, to be laid waste. This expedition 
was performed in less than six days, and without the loss of a 
man. 

Fort Schuyler, from whence the troops set out, stood hard by 
where the bridge over the Mohawk at Utica now is. At that 
time the whole space between the Mohawk River and Onon- 
daga Creek, was covered with woods, and was without roads 
'O.r civilized inhabitants. 



296 IHSTORY OF ruE 

The second expeditioa was principally against the Senecas, 
who had their main stations on the banks of Genesee River. 
The chief command of the troops employed in this enterprise, 
was conferred on general Sullivan. Tioga Point, in Pennsyl- 
vania, at the union of the Susquehannah and Tioga Rivers, was 
selected for the rendezvous of the troops. General Sullivan, 
with three thousand men, set out from Easton on the Delaware, 
and advanced up the Susquehannah to that place, where he was 
joined by General Clinton, with upwards of one thousand. 
The latter had marched from the Mohawk to the outlet of 
Otsego Lake, by the way of Cherry Valley, whence he de- 
scended the Susquehannah. The water in the river, when he 
reached the outlet, was too low to float his boats. To remedy 
this, General Clinton caused a dam to be constructed across 
the outlet, for the purpose of preventing the escape of the wa- 
ters, till they should rise sufficiently high for his boats. This 
lake being fed by springs, soon rose to the height he wished, 
when he ordered the dam to be cut down. This raised the 
river so much, that he was enabled to descend in boats to Oqua- 
go, whence to Tioga Point — there is always sufficient depth of 
water. After the junction of these troops. General Sullivan 
resumed his march for the country of the Senecas. His route 
lay up Tioga and Conhocton Rivers. The Indians on hearing 
of the expedition projected against them, behaved with firm- 
ness. They collected their forces, and took a strong position 
on Tioga River, near Newton, in the county of Tioga, and for- 
tified it with skill and judgment. General Sullivan attacked 
them in this position. They stood a cannonade for more than 
two hours, during which time several assaults were repelled ; 
but they were forced to give way and abandon their works. 
This engagement was decisive ; after the trenches were forced, 
the Indians fled without attempting to rally. They were pur- 
sued by the Americans for several miles, but with little or no 
efl'ect. The consternation, occasioned among them by this de- 
feat, was so great, that they gave up all ideas of further resist- 
ance. As the Americans advanced into their settlements, the 
Indians retired before them, without throwing any obstructions 



i 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 297 

in tiieir way. The Generals Sullivan and Clinton penetrated 
into the midst of the Seneca's country, and spread desolation 
on every side. Eighteen towns and villages, besides hamlets 
and detached habitations were burned. All their fields of corn, 
and whatever else was in a slate of cultivation, were destroyed. 
Nothing in the form of a house was left standing, nor was any 
Indian to be seen. The lands, about the towns and villages, 
were under tolerably good cultivation, and some of their houses 
were large and commodious. The quantity of corn destroyed 
was immense. Orchards, in which were several hundred liuit 
trees, were cut down. Their gardens, which contained great 
quantities of useful vegetables, were laid waste. The troops 
were so inflamed with indignation against the Indians, on ac- 
count of the many murders they had committed on the back 
settlers, that they were determined not to leave the country, 
before the work of destruction was fully consummated. 

The Indians, by this expedition, being made to feel in a very 
sensible manner, those calamities they had been accustomed to 
inflict on others, became cautious and timid. The suff^erings 
which they had to endure, and the dread of a repetition of them, 
in case tiiey should again provoke the indignation of the Ameri- 
can people, damped the ardour of their warriors considerably, 
and rendered their inroads less frequent and destructive. 

While Generals Sullivan and Clinton were engaged in wast- 
ing the Indian settlements on Tioga, Conhocton and Genesee 
rivers. Colonel I'roadhead executed a successful expedition 
against the Mingo, Munsi, and Seneca Indians, residing on the 
Alleghany River. He set out about the first of August from 
Pittsburgh, with six hundred and five men, and proceeded up 
that river about two hundred miles, destroying in his way all 
the Indian habitations and corn fields which lay in his route- 
Colonel Broadhead spent five weeks in this expedition. 

On the twenty-third of July the celebrated Colonel Brandt, 
with sixty Indians and twenty-seven white men, attacked the 
Minisink settlement, and burnt ten houses, twelve barns, a fort, 
and two mills, and carried away much property which they 
plundered, together with several prisoners. The militia from 

VOL. iir. 38 



298 HISTORY OF THE 

the town of Goshen and the neighbourhood assembled, t(^the 
number of one hundred and fifty, and went in pursuit of them, 
but with so little caution, that they were surprised and com- 
pletely routed. The Minisink settlement was then in the county 
of Orange; it is now partly in the latter county and partly in 
Sullivan county. I'his inroad was made about the time that 
Generals Sullivan and Clinton were commencing the invasion 
of the Seneca country. 

Throughout the year 1779, the British seem to have aimed 
at little more in the states, northward of North Carolina, than 
depredation. One of these, consisting of both naval and land 
forces, was intrusted to Sir George Collyer and General Mat- 
thews, who made a descent on Virginia. They sailed for Ports- 
mouth on the tenth of May, and on their arrival took possession 
of that defenceless town. The remains of Norfolk, on the op- 
posite side of the river, fell of course into their hands. The 
Americans burned some of their own vessels, but others were 
made prizes by the invaders. The British guards marched 
eighteen miles in the night, and arriving at Suffolk court-house 
by morning, destroyed the vessels, naval stores, and a large 
magazine of provisions. Similar destruction was carried on at 
Kemp's Landing, Shepherd's Gospert, Tanner's Creek, and 
other places in the vicinity. The frigates and armed vessels 
were employed on the same business along the margins of the 
rivers. Above one hundred and thirty vessels were either de- 
stroyed or taken, and ail that were on the stocks burned. The 
fleet and army then returned to New-York. This expedition 
into Virginia distressed a number of its inhabitants, and enrich- 
ed the British forces, but was of no service to the common 

cause. 

In about five weeks after the termination of the expedition to 
Virginia, a similar one was projected against the exposed mar- 
gin of Connecticut. Governor Try on was appointed to, the 
command of about two thousand six hundred land forces, em- 
ployed on this business. The transports which conveyed these 
troops were covered by a number of armed vessels, commanded 
bv Sir George Collyer. They proceeded from the city of New- 



STATE iW NEW- YORK. 299 

Yolk on the fifth of July, by the way of Hurl -gate, and pass- 
ing down the Sound, landed at East Haven, The comman- 
ders made an address to the inhabitants, in which they invited 
them to return to their allegiance, and promised protection to 
all who should remain peaceably at home, &c. One of the 
addresses was sent by a flag to Colonel Whiting, of the militia, 
near Fairfield. The colonel was allowed one hour for his an- 
swer, but he had scarcely time to read it before the town was 
in flames. The British marched from their landing to New 
Haven, The town, on their entering i;, was given up to be 
plundered, a few instances of protection excepted. An aged 
citizen, who laboured under a natural impediment of speech, 
had his tongue cut out. After perpetrating every species of 
enormity, but that of burning houses, the invaders re-embarked 
and went to Fairfield. The militia o( that place and the vicini- 
ty being assembled, posted themselves at the court-house green, 
and gave considerable annoyance to them as they were advano^ 
ing, but soon retired to tlie height back of the town. The 
town was evacuated by the inliabitants, except some women, 
who remained with the view of saving their propert}'. Ttiese 
supposed that their sex would protect them, but they soon had 
reason to repent of their temerity. Parties of the royal army 
entered the deserted houses, broke open desks, trunks, and 
chests, and took every thing of value. They robbed the wo- 
men of their buckles, rings, bonnets, aprons, and handkerchiefs. 
They abused them, threatened their lives, and presented bayo- 
nets to their breasts. Towards evening they began to burn the 
houses. The women begged Governor Tryon to spare the 
town. Mr. Sayer, the Episcopal clergyman, who had suffered 
for his attachment to the royal cause, joined the women in their 
request, but it was unavailing. They then begged that a few 
houses might be spared for a general shelter, but he declined 
to spare beyond two buildings, and the places for public wor- 
ship. 

The British in this excursion also burned East Haven, and 
the greatest part of Green's Farms, and the town of Norwalk. 
Considerable numbers of ships, either finished or on the stocHs> 



300 HISTORY OF THE 

with a large amount of stores and merchandise, were^'de^ 
stroyed. 

The fires and destruction which accompanied this* expedition, 
were severely censured by the Americans, and apologized for 
by the British in a manner altogether unsatisfactory. 

While the British were carrying on these desolating opera- 
tions, Washington was called upon for continental troops, but 
he was unable to spare enough to afford relief and protection. 
He durst not detach largely, as he was apprehensive that one 
design of the British, in these predatory excursions, was to draw 
off a proportion of his army from West Point, on the Hudson, 
to favour an intended attack on that important post. General 
Parsons, though closely connected with Connecticut, it being 
his native state, and though from his small force he was unable 
to make successful opposition to the invaders, did not press the 
commander-in-chief for reinforcements. Had Washington di- 
vided his army conformably to the wishes of the invaded citi- 
zens, he would have subjected his whole force to be cut up in 
detail. 

His army was posted at some distance from the British head- 
quarters, in the city of New- York, and on both sides of the 
Hudson. The advance, consisting of three hundred infantry, 
and one hundred and fifty cavalry, under Colonel White, pat- 
roled constantly for several months, in front of the British lines, 
and kept a constant watch on the Sound and on the Hudson. 
This corps had sundry skirmishes with parties of the British^ 
and was particularly useful in checking their excursions, and in 
procuring and communicating intelligence of their movements. 
About this time General Putnam, who had been stationed at 
Reading, in Connecticut, when on a visit to his outpost at 
Horse Neck, was attacked by Governor Tryon, with fifteen 
hundred men. General Putnam had only one hundred and 
fifty men, and two field pieces. He, however, planted his can- 
non on the high ground near the meeting-house, and by several 
fires retarded the advancing enemy, and continued to make op- 
position, till he perceived the enemy's horse, supported by the 
infantry, were about to charge, when after ordering his men to 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 301 

provide for tlieir own safety, by retiring to a swamp inaccessible 
10 cavalry, he rode down the precipice at the church. This is 
so steep as to have artificial stairs, composed of nearly one 
hundred steps, cut in the rocks, for the convenience of foot 
passengers. The cavalry of the enemy, on coming to the verge 
of this precipice, stopped short, without venturing down, and 
before they could get round the brow of the hill, Putnam was 
beyond their reach. He proceeded to Stamford, and having 
strengthened his little band with some militia, faced about, and 
pursued Tryon on his return. 

The campaign, though barren of great events, was distin- 
guished by one of the most gallant enterprises which took place 
in the course of the war. This was the capture of Stoney 
Point, on the Hudson. General Wayne, who conducted this 
enterprise, set out on the fourteenth day of July, about noon, 
at the head of a strong detachment of infantry, and completed 
a march of fourteen miles over bad roads, by eight o'clock iu 
the evening. The detachment, being then within a mile and a 
half of its object, was halted and formed into columns. Wayne, 
with a few of his officers, advanced and reconnoitred the works. 
At half past eleven the whole moved forward to the assault. 
The van of the right, consisting of one hundred and fifty volun- 
teers, under Lieutenant-colonel Fleury, advanced with unload- 
ed muskets and fixed bayonets. These were preceded by tweity 
picked men, who were to remove the abbalis and other obsti uc- 
tions. The van of the left was led by Major Stewart, and 
moved forward also with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets. 
It was also preceded by a similar forlorn hope. Wayne put 
himself at the head of the right column, and gave orders not to 
fire, but to depend on the bayonet. The two columns directed 
their attacks to opposite points of the works, while a party en- 
gaged the attention of the garrison by a feint in their front. 
The approaches were more difficult than had been anticipated ; 
the works were defended by a deep morass — but neither the 
morass, the double abbatis, nor the strength of the works, 
damped the ardour of the troops. In the face of a tremendous 
fire of musketry and cannon, they forced their way at the point 



30i HISTORY OF THE 

of the bayojiet, and both columns met in the centre of the vvorksj 
at nearly the same instant. Wayne, as he passed the last ab- 
batis, was wounded in the head by a musket ball, but the wound 
was not dangerous. Lieutenants Gibbons and Knox, who led 
the forlorn hope, escaped unhurt, although the first lost seven- 
teen men out of twenty, and the last nearly as many. 'IMie 
killed and wounded of the Americans amounted to ninety-eight. 
The killed of the garrison were sixty-three, and the number of 
their prisoners five hundred and fortj^-three. Two standards, 
fifteen pieces of cannon, and a considerable quantity of military 
stores, fell into the hands of the conquerors. The clemency 
shown to the vanquislied was highly applauded. The custom 
of war, and the recent barbarities at Norwalk, New Haven and 
Fairfield, would have been an apology, had the Americans put 
the whole garrison to death. 

Upon the capture of Stoney Point, the Americans turned its 
artillery against Verplanck's Point, and fired upon it with so 
much effect, that the shipping in its vicinity had to cut their 
cables and fall down the river. As soon as the news of the 
capture of Stoney Point reached New-York, Sir Henry Clinton 
caused immediate preparations to be made to relieve the garrir 
son at Verplank's Point, and to recover the former. Washing- 
ton, who was not inclined to risk an engagement for either or 
both of them, gave orders to remove the cannon and stores, de- 
stroy the works, and evacuate the post. The British commander, 
therefore, regained possession of Stoney Point on the third day 
after its capture, and placed in it a strong garrison. 

The successful enterprise of the Americans at Stoney Point 
was speedily followed by another, which equalled it in boldness 
of design. This was the surprise of the British garrison at 
Fowles' Hook, (novy Jersey City) opposite to the city of New- 
York, which was efiected by Major Lee, with three hundred 
and fifty men. Major Sutherland, the commander, with a 
number of Hessians, got off to a small block-house on the left 
of the fort, but thirty of his men were killed, and one hundred 
and sixty taken prisoners. Major Lee made an immediate re- 
jfreat. 



i 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 30^ 

These advantages were more than counterbalanced, by an 
unsuccessful attempt made by the state of Massachusetts, on a 
British post at Penobscot. Colonel M'Clean, by the direction 
of Sir Henry Clinton, landed with a detachment of six huridred 
and fifty men, from Halifax, on the IGth of June, on the banks of 
the river Penobscot, in the state of Maine, and proceeded soon 
after to construct a fort in a v/ell chosen situation. This occa- 
sioned an alarm at Boston; to counteract the establishment of the 
post, measures were resolved upon. That armed vessels, trans- 
ports, and sailors might be secured for the expedition, an enibaj:go 
for forty days was laid by the state of Massachusetts on all its 
shipping. A considerable armament, consisting" of eighteen 
armed vessels, besides transports, was fitted out with extraordi- 
nary dispatch. A body of land forces, commanded by General 
Lovel, embarked on this expedition. On the twenty-fifth of 
July, the Massachusetts fleet, consisting of thirty-seven sail, ap- 
peared off Penobscot. General Lovel, on his landing, sum- 
moned Colonel M'Clean to surrender, which being refused, he 
proceeded to erect a battery. A cannonading commenced, 
and was kept up for about two weeks, but without much effect. 
While the besiegers were making preparations for an assault, 
Sir George CoUyer appeared in view, with a squadron, for the 
relief of the garrison. His marine force consisted of the Rai- 
sonable, of sixty-four guns, and five frigates. The Americans 
at first made a display of risistance, but it was only to give the 
transports time to move up the river and debark the troops. 
The superior force of the enemy was irresistible, and the escape 
of the Americans impracticable. A general flight on the one 
side, and a general pursuit on the other, took place. Sir George 
Collyer destroyed and captured seventeen vessels. The Ame- 
rican soldiers and sailoi4 had to return a great part of their 
way by land through thick woods. 

In the mean time hostilities between the fleets of France and 
Great Britain were carrying on in the East and West Indies, 
and the European seas, and along ihp coast of the United 
States. 

In June, Spain declared war against Great Britain* This 



304 HISTORY OF THE 

event was altogether unexpected to the British ministry, who 
had supposed that Spain, in as much as she possessed coh^nies, 
would not set so bad an example to them, as to give any coun- 
tenance to the Americans. The event, however, demonstrated 
that nations are not always governed by fixed principles, and 
that similarity in circumstances does not occasion a similarity in 
action. 

The situation of Great Britain was at this time critical. She 
was weakened and distracted in a domestic contest, in which 
victory produced no solid advantages, but defeat its natural 
effects. In the midst of this wasting contest, in which her 
ability to reduce her revolted colonies was doubtful, she was 
suddenly involved in a new and much more dangerous war with 
one of the greatest powers in Europe. At this very time, when 
she was engaged in this double warfare, the Spaniards added 
their forces to that of her other foes. 

In this situation an abandonment of the war with the United 
States was recommended by some of the leading men in the 
nation, but this recommendation was overruled by Parliament. 
In the year 1779, though the war was carried on for little 
more than distress and depredation in the northern and middle 
states, the re-establishment of the British government was at- 
tempted in Carolina and Georgia. After the reduction of Sa- 
vannah, a great part of the state of Georgia was restored to the 
King's peace. The royal army was strengthened by a power- 
ful reinforcement from East Florida, and the whole was put 
under the command of General Provost. There were at that 
time but f^iw continental troops in Georgia and South Carolina, 
and scarce any in North Carolina. A body of militia was de- 
tached by North Carolina to aid her sister states. These join- 
ed the continentals, but not before tney had retreated out of 
Georgia, and taken post in South Carolina. Towards the 
close ot the year, General Lnicoln was appointed to take the 
command of he southern army, which then consisted of only a 
few hundred continentals. To supply the deficiency of regular 
troops, a considerable body of militia was ordered to join him, 
but tliey added much more to his numbers than to his eflectivc 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 305 

ibrce. They had not yet learned ihat implicit obedience was 
necessary to insure success in military operations. Accustom- 
ed to habits of freedom and independence, they reluctantly 
submitted to discipline. The royal army at Savannah, being 
reinforced by the troops from St. Augustine, was enabled to 
extend their posts. The first object was to take possession of 
Port Royal, in South Carolina. Major Gardiner, being de- 
tached with two hundred men, landed on the island, but Gene- 
ral Moultrie, at the head of an equal number of Americans, at- 
tacked and drove him off. This repulse restrained the British 
from attempting any immediate enterprise to the northward of 
Savannah, but ihey fixed posts at Ebenezer and Augusta, and 
extended themselves over a great part of Georgia ; they also 
attempted to strengthen themselves, by means ol the tories, ia 
the western settlements of that state and JNorth Carolina. Emis- 
saries were sent among the inhabitants of that description, to 
encourage them to a general insurrection. Several hundreds 
of them accordingly rose, and after rendezvousing, set off to 
join the royal army at Augusta. They had, however, no sooner 
embodied and begun their march, than they commenced such a 
scene of plunder on the defenceless settlements through which 
they passed, as induced the inhabitants to turn out to oppose 
them. 

Colonel Pickins, with about three hundred men of the latter 
description, pursued and came up with them, when an action 
commenced, which ended in the defeat of the tories. Colonel 
Boyd, their leader, with forty men, were killed. By this action 
the British were disconcerted in some of their plans ; the tories 
were dispersed — some ran quite off, wliile others returned home, 
and threw themselves on the mercy of their country. These 
were tried by the laws of South Carolina, and seventy were 
condemned to die, but the sentence was only executed on five 
of their ringleaders. 

As the British extended their posts on the Georgia side of 
Savannah River, General Lincoln fixed encampments at Black 
Swamp, nearly opposite to Augusta, on the Carolina side. 
With the view of confining the British to the low country near 

VOL. III. 39 



306 HISTORY OF THE 

the ocean, General Lincoln formed a plan for crossing into 
Georgia. In the execution of this design, General Ash, with 
fifteen hundred North Carolina militia and a few regulars, after 
crossing the Savannah, took a position on Briar Creek; but 
in a few days he was surprised by Lieutenant-colonel Provost, 
who, having made a circuitous march of fifiy miles> came unex- 
pectedly on his rear with nine hundred men. The militia were 
thrown into confusion, and fled at the first fire. One hundred 
and fifty were killed, and one hundred, and sixty-two were taken 
prisoners. Mmy were drowned in the Savannah River. 01 
those who escaped, a great part returned home. The conti- 
nentals, under Colonel Elbert, made a stout resistance, but 
were at length compelled to surrender. This untoward event 
deprived General Lincoln of one-fourth of his numbers, and 
opened a communication between the British, the Indians, and 
the tories of North and South Carolina. 

Unexperienced in the art of war, the Americans were subject 
to those reverses of fortune which usually attend soldiers in their 
first essays. Unacquainted with military stratagems, deficient 
in discipline, and not thoroughly broken to habits of implicit 
obedience, they were often surprised, and had to learn, by re- 
peated misfortunes, the necessity of subordination and disci- 
pline. 

The disasters which had followed the American arms since 
the landing of the British near Savannah, occasioned well- 
founded apprehensions for the safety of the adjacent states. 
The militia of South Carolina was, therefore, put on a better 
fooling, and a regiment of cavalry was raised. John Rutledge 
wa.s called to the chair of government, and invested, with his 
council, with dictatorial powers. He convened a numerous 
body of the militia near the centre of the state, that they might 
be in readiness to march whithersoever public service required. 
The original plan of penetrating into Georgia was resumed ; 
part of the American force was stationed on the north side of 
the Savannah, at Purrysburgh and Black Swamp, while Gene- 
ral Lincoln and the main army crossed into Georgia, near Au- 
gusta. General Provost availed himself of the moment when 



STATE OF WEW-YORK. 307 

the American army had ascended one hundred and fifty miles, 
towards the source of the Savannah, and crossed into South 
Carolina, over the same river, near its mouth, with two thou- 
sand-four hundred men, and a considerable body of Indians. 
The superior forces of the British soon compelled General 
Moultrie to retire. General Lincoln, on receiving information 
of this, detached three hundred of his light troops to the assis- 
tance of Moultrie, and then marched with his main army to- 
wards the capital of Georgia. He was induced to march on 
Savannah, from an idea that General Provost meant nothing 
more than to divert him by a feint on South Carolina ; but 
when he found that the latter was pushing for Charleston, he 
re-cros£ed the Savannah and pursuerl hiin. The British pro- 
ceeded by the main road, near the coast, with little opposition, 
and in the mean time the Arnericans retreated before them to- 
wards Charleston. Meeting with little difficulty, and finding 
n^any of the inhabitants friendly to the royal cause, General 
Provost continued his march, and about the tenth of May, ap- 
peared before the town, which was defended by three thousand 
three hundred men, mostly militia. 

Meanwhile General Lincoln advanced with all possible dis- 
patch to the relief of Charleston. The British general, on 
learning this, retreated to the island? near the sea, in order to 
avoid being placed between two armies. Very soon after this, 
General Lincoln arrived in the vicinity of Charleston, and en- 
camped over against the enemy. On the twentieth of June, an 
attack was made by about twelve hundred Americans on seven 
hundred of the British posted at Stono Ferry ; but the latter, 
being protected by strong works, compelled the former to re- 
tire, with the loss of one hundred and fifty men. 

Immediately after this aflair, the militia, impatient of absence 
from their homes, returned, and about the same time the enemy 
left the islands adjacent to Charleston, retreating from one 
island to another, till they reached Port Royal and Savannah. 

This incursion, like tliose made in the middle and northern 
states, contributed very little to the promotion of the royal 
cause, although it added much to the wealrli of the officers an^l 



308 HISTORY OF THE 

followers of the army. The forces under Provost spread them- 
selves over a considerable part of the richest settlements, and 
where there were the fewest white people in proportion to the 
number of slaves. There was much to attract, and but little to 
oppose the invaders. Every place in their line of mar^-h ex- 
perienced the effects of their rapacity. 

boon after the retreat of the enemy, General Lincoln retired 
from Charleston, with the continentals, to Sheldon, where he 
remained till the arrival, on the coast ol Georgia, of a French 
fleet, consisting of twenty sail of the line and thirteen frigates, 
under the command ot Count D Estaing. This was about the 
first of September, and his appearance was so unexpected, that 
a fifty gun ship and three frigates, belonging to the enemy, fell 
into his hands. 

As soon as his arrival was known. General Lincoln decamp- 
ed, and marched for the vicinity of Savannah, for the purpose 
of acting in concert with the French, against the British. Or- 
ders were given for the militia of South Carolina and Georgia 
to rendezvous near the same place. 

The British general, anticipating an attack from the Ameri- 
cans and French, set about strengthening the works at Savan- 
nah. The American miUtia, buoyed up with the hope of ex- 
pelling the enemy from Georgia, turned out with alacrity. 
D'Estaing, before the arrival of General Lincoln, demanded 
the surrender of the town to the arms of France. Provost 
asked a suspension of hostilities for twenty-four hours, for pre- 
paring terras of capitulation, which was granted. Before the 
twenty-four hours had elapsed, Lieutenant-colonel Maitland, 
with several hundred men, who had been stationed at Beaufort, 
made their way through many obstacles, and joined the royal 
army cooped up in Savannah. The general, encouraged by 
the arrival of this force, determined on resistance. The French 
and Americans, who formed a junction the evening after, were 
therefore reduced to the necessity of storming or besieging the 
place. The resolution of proceeding by siege being adopted, 
several days were unavoidably consumed in preparing for it. 
J\leanwhile, tlte garrison were indefatigable in strengthening 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 309 

their works. The besiegers, on the fourth of October, opened 
their batteries on the town. Soon after the commencement of 
the cannonade, Provost soHcited for leave to send the women 
and children out of the place ; but this was refused. On a re- 
port from the engineers, that a considerable time would be 
necessary to reduce the garrison by regular approaches, it was 
determined to make an assault. This measure was forced on 
Count D'Estaing by his marine officers, who remonstrated 
against his continuing to risk so valuable a fleet on a danger- 
ous coast, in the hurricane season, and at so great a distance 
from the shore. Under these circumstances, no farther delay, 
it was alleged, ought to be made. To assault or raise the 
siege was therefore the alternative. The former was agreed 
on. Two feints were made by the militia, and a real attack, 
with three thousand five hundred French troops, and nine hun- 
dred and fifty continentals and militia from Charleston. These 
marched up to the lines, under the command of the Count 
D'Estaing and General Lincoln, but a heavy and well directed 
fire threw the front of their columns into confusion, and it being 
found impossible to carry the place, a retreat was ordered. 
Count D'Estaing and Count Pulaski, were both wounded — 
the former slightly, but the lat'er mortally. Six hundred and 
thirty-seven of the French, and upwards of two hundred of the 
Americans, were killed or wounded. The force of the garrison 
was 'between two and three thousand men. Immediately after 
this unsuccessful assault, the militia, almost universally, went 
home. Count D'Estaing re-embarked his troops, and left the 
continent. 

This visit of the French fleet to the coast of America, though 
unsuccessful as to its main object, was not without utility to 
the United States. It disconcerted the measures already di- 
gested by the British commanders, and caused a considerable 
waste of time before they could determine on a new plan of 
operations. It also occasioned the evacuation of Rhode 
Island. 

The siege of Savannah being raised, the continentals, under 
General Lincoln, retreated over the river, and took post. The 



310 HISTORY OF THE 

vicissitudes of an autumnal atmosphere made a severe impres- 
sion on tiie troops, exhausted as they were by fatigue, and de- 
jected«by defeat. The Georgia exiles, who had assembled to 
re-pos'sess themselves of their estates, were a second time oblig- 
ed to flee. The most gloomy apprehensions, respecting the 
southern states, took possession of the minds ot the people. 

Thus ended the southern campaign of 1779, without any 
thing decisive on either side. After one year, in which the Bri- 
tish had overrun the state of Georgia, for one hundred and 
fifty miles from the sea-coast, and had penetrated as far as 
Charleston, they were reduced to their original limits in Sa- 
vannah. All their schemes of co-operaiion with the tories 
had failed, and the spirits of that class of the inhabitants were 
broken. 

The campaign of 1779, is remarkable for the feeble exertions 
of the Americans. Accidental causes which had previously ex- 
cited their activity, had, in a great measure, ceased to have in- 
fluence. An enthusiasm for liberty made them brave every 
danger in the first years of the war. The successes of their 
arms at Trenton and Princeton, and the capture of Burgoyne, 
made the close of the campaign of 1776, and that of 1777, both 
active and decisive. The flattering prospects inspired by the 
alliance with France in 1778, banished all fears of the success 
of the revolution, but the failure of every scheme of co-opera- 
tion, produced a despondency of mind, unfavourable to great 
exertions. Instead of driving the British out of the country, 
as was vainly presumed, the campaigns of 1778 and 1779, 
ended without any very great advantage from the French fleet, 
sent to their aid. Expecting too much from their allies, and 
then failing in their own exertions, they were less prepared to 
prosecute the war from their own resources, than they other- 
wise would have been, had D'Estaing not touched on their 
coast. Their army was reduced and badly clothed. In the 
first years of the war, the mercantile character, which is usually 
unfavourable to war, was lost in the military spirit of the times ; 
but in the progress of it, the people cooling in their enthusiasm, 
gradually returned to their former habits of lucrative business. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 311 

This made distinctions between the army and the citizens, 
which were unfriendly to military exertions. While several 
events tended to the embarrassment of Great Britain, and indi- 
rectly to the establishmi nt of independence, a variety of internal 
causes relaxed the exertions of the Americans, and for a time 
made it doubt.ul whether they would ultimately be indepen- 
dent citizens or conquered subjects. Among these, the de- 
preciation of their bills of credit, held a distinguished pre-emi- 
nence. 

Money is not less essential to carrying on war than valoi^r in the 
field, or wisdom in the national council. In the United States, 
silver and gold were in small quantities, and altogether inad- 
equate to the demands of war, nor could they be obtained 
from abroad, as the channels nf commerce were suspended. 
Congress could not resort to taxation, because the contest in 
dispute was on the subject of taxation. The only expedient 
in their power to adopt, was the emission of credit, under a pub- 
lic engagement, to be redeemed by equal taxes, or exchanged 
for silver or gold. The practice of emitting bills under the co- 
lonial governments, with proper restrictions, had often been re- 
sorted to. Custom seemed to warrant the course. The reso- 
lution of Congress, in June, 1776, to raise an army, was there- 
fore followed by another, to emit bills of credit to the amount 
of two millions of dollars. To that sum, on the 25th of the 
next month, it was resolved to add another million. For their 
redemption, they pledged the confederated colonies, and direct- 
ed each colony to find ways and means to sink its proportion 
in four annual payments, the first to be made on or before the 
last day of November, 1779. On the twenty-ninth of No- 
vember, 1775, an estimate having been made by Congress, of 
the expense already incurred, or likely to be incurred, in carry- 
ing on their defence till the tenth of June, 1776, it was resolv- 
ed to emit the further sum of three millions of dollars, to be 
redeemed as the former, by four annual payments, the first to 
be made on or before the last day of November, 1783. Hither- 
to, all the arrangements, both for men and money, were tem- 
porary, and founded on the supposed probability of a recon- 



312 HISTORY OF THE 

ciliation. Early in 1776, Congress obtained information that 
Great Britain had contracted for sixteen thousand mercenaries, 
to be sent over for the purpose of subduing the colonies. This 
induced them to extend their plan of defence beyond the tenth 
of June, 1776. They, therefore, on the seventeenth of Feb- 
ruary, 1776, ordered four millions of dollars to be emitted, and 
on the ninth of May, and the twenty-second of July following, 
emitted ten millions more on the same security. Such was the 
animation of the times, that these several emissions, amounting 
to twenty-two millions of dollars, circulated for several months 
without any depreciation. But there was a point, both in time 
and quantity, beyond which these bills ceased to operate. 
That time was about eighteen months from the date of their 
first emission. 

Independence being declared in the second year of the war, 
and the object for which arms were at first assumed, being 
changed, it was obvious that more money must be procured, 
and equally so, that if bills of gredit were multiplied beyond a 
reasonable amount, they must depreciate. It was, therefore, 
on the third of October, 1 776, resolved to borrow five millions 
of dollars, and in the month following, a lottery was set on foot, 
for obtaining a further sum on loan. The expenses of the 
war were so great, that the money arising from both, fell far 
short. Congress thought it premature to urge taxation ; they 
therefore reiterated the expedient of further emissions. The 
ease with which supplies were procured by bills of credit, and 
the readiness of the people to receive them, prompted Con- 
gress to multiply them. A diminution of their value was the 
consequence. This was, at first, scarcely perceivable, but it 
daily increased. The zeal of the people, nevertheless, so far 
overbalanced the nice mercantile calculations of interest, that 
the campaigns of 1776 and 1777, were not affected by the 
depreciation of the paper currency. Congress foresaw that 
this could not long be the case. It was, therefore, on the 
twenty-second of November, 1777, recommended to the several 
states, to raise by taxes, the sum of five millions of dollars for 
the service of 1778, 



STATE OF NEW-YOUE. 313 

Previously to this, it had been resolved to borrow larger 
sums, the interest of which was to be payable in France, out of 
moneys borrowed there by the United States. This tax failed 
in several of the states. From the impossibility of procuring a 
sufficiency of money, either from loans or taxes, the old expe- 
dient of farther emissions was reiterated ; but the value de- 
creased as the quantity increased. Congress, to put a stop to 
the increase of their bills of credit, and to provide a fund for 
reducing what were issued^ called upon the states, on the first 
of January, 1779, to pay into the continental treasury their re- 
spective quotas of fifteen millions of dollars, for the service of 
that year, and of six millions annually, from and after that year, 
as a fund for the reduction of their early emissions and loans. 

In addition to these fifteen millions, called for on the first of 
January, 1779, the states were, on the twenty- second of May 
following, called on to furnish for the public service, within the 
current year, their respective quotas of forty-five millions of 
dollars. These requisitions were by no means sufiicient. From 
fhe fluctuating state of the money, it was impossible to make 
any certain calculation, for it was not two days of the same 
value. A sum, which when demanded, would have purchased 
the commodities wanted for the public service, was inadequate 
when the collection was made. The depreciation began at dif- 
ferent periods in different states, but became universal about the 
;niddle of 1777. Towards the end of 1777, the depreciation 
was about two or three for one ; in 1778, it advanced from two 
or three for one, to five or six for one ; in 1779, from five or six 
for one, to twenty-seven or twent^'-eight for one ; in 1780, from 
twenty-seven or twenty-eight for one, to fifty or sixty for one, m 
the first four or five months. Its circulation was afterwards 
partial, but where it passed it soon depreciated to one hundred 
and fifty for one. In some few parts, it continued in circula- 
tion for the first four or five months of 1781, but in this latter 
period many would not take it at any rate. 

As there was a general clamour, on account of the floods of 
money, which at successive periods had deluged the states. 
Congress resolved, in October, 1779, that no farther sum should 

VOL. III. 40 



314 HISTORY OF THE 

be issued than wliat, when added to the present sum in circula- 
tion, would amount to two hundred millions of dollars. It was at 
the same time resolved, that Congress should emit only such a 
part of I he sum wanting to make ujd two hundred millions, as 
should be necessary for the public exigencies, before adequate 
supplies could be otherwise obtained, relying for such supplies 
on the exertions of the several states. This was represented, 
in a circular letter from Congress to their constituents, and the 
states were entreated to prevent the evils w hich would flow from 
their neglecting to furnish adequate supplies for the wants ot 
the confederacy. The same circular letter stated the practi- 
cability of redeeming all the bills at par, and rejected the 
supposition, that tiie states would ever tkrnish their credit by 
violating public faith. These declarations in favour of the 
paper currency, induced many to repose confidence in it to 
their ruin. 

From the non-compliance of the states, Congress was obliged, 
in a short time after the date of their circular letter, to issue 
such a farther quantity, as when added to previous emissions, 
made two hundred millions of dollars. Besides this immense 
sum, the paper emissions of the different states amounted to 
many millions, which mixed with the continental money, and 
added to the depreciation. The source which for five years 
had enabled Congress to keep an army in the field, being ex- 
hausted, Washington was reduced, for some time, to the alter- 
native of disbanding his troops, or of supplying them by mili- 
tary force. He preferred the latter, and the inhabitants of New- 
York and New-Jersey, though they felt the injury, saw the ne- 
cessity, and submitted. 

The states were next called upon to furnish, in lieu of money, 
determinate quantities of beef, pork, flour, and other articles, 
for the use of the army. This was found so difficult, partial, 
and expensive, that it was abandoned. About this time, Con- 
gress resolved upon another expedient. This was to issue a 
new species of paper money, under the guarantee of the several 
states. The old money was to be called in by taxes, and as 
soon as brought in was to be burnt, and in lieu thereof one 



STATE OF NEW-YOllk. 315 

dollar of the new was to be emitted for every twenty of the old, 
so that when the whole two hundred millions were drawn in 
and cancelled, only ten millions of the new should be issued in 
their place, four-tenths of which were to be subject to the order 
of Congress, and the remaining six-tenths to the order of the 
several states. These new bills were to be redeemable in specie 
within six years, and to bear an interest at the rate of five per 
cent, to be paid at the redemption of thd bills, or at the election 
of the owners, annually, in bills of exchange on the United 
States' commissioners in Europe. 

From the execution of these resolutions, it was expected that 
the old money would be cancelled ; that the currency would be 
reduced to a standard ; that the states would be supplied with 
the means of purchasing the supplies require^!, of them, and 
that Congress would be furnished with money to provide for 
the exigencies of the war. The new paper currency answered 
very little purpose. Congress expected, by changing the ground 
of credit, to gain a repetition of the advantages which resulted 
from the first paper expedient, but this expectation was delusive. 
By this time much of the popular enthusiasm had spent itself, 
and confidence in public engagements was nearly expired. The 
event proved that credit is of too delicate a nature to be sport- 
ed with, and can only be maintained by honesty and punc- 
tuality. 

To prevent the depreciation of their paper money, Congress, 
on several occasions, attempted to prop its credit by unjustifia- 
ble means. They recommended to the states to pass laws for 
regulating the prices of labour, and all sorts of commodities, 
and for confiscating and selling the estates of tories, and for in- 
Vesting the money arising from the sales thereof in certificates. 
They also recommended to the states to pass laws for making 
the paper money a legal tender at its nominal value, in the dis- 
charge of debts ; and that whosoever should ask or receive more 
in their bills of credit than the nominal sum thereof in Spanish 
dollars, or more in the said bills for commodities, than the same 
would be purchased from the same person in gold or silver, or 
offer to sell any commodities for gold and silver, and refuse to 



31 e ftlSTORY OF THE 

sell the same for their bills, should be deemed an enemy to the 
United States, and forfeit the property so sold or offered for 
sale. The laws which were passed by the states for regulating 
the prices of labour and commodities, were found on experiment 
to be visionary and impracticable. 

These laws, in the first instance, produced an artificial scar- 
city, and had they not been repealed, would soon have occasion- 
ed a real one. The confiscation and sale of the property of 
tories brought but very little into the treasury. The most ex- 
tensive mischiefs resulted in the progress and towards the close 
of the war, from the operation of the laws which made the paper 
bills a tender in the discharge of debts. 

The aged, who had retired from business to enjoy the fruits 
of their industfy, found their substance melting away to a mere 
pittance. The widow, who lived on the bequests of her de- 
ceased husband, experienced a frustration of his tenderness. 
The laws compelled her to receive a shilling where a pound 
was her due. The virgin, who had grown up with a title to a 
patrimony, was stripped of every thing but her virtue. The 
orphan, instead of receiving from the executor his due, was 
obliged to give a discharge on the payment of six-pence in the 
pound. '1 he earnings af a long life were, in a few years, re- 
duced to a trifling sum. 

Such were the evils which resulted from paper money. On 
the other hand, it was the occasion of good to many. In the 
first years of the war it enabled Congress and the states to raise 
armies and carry on the contest. 

See Marshall's Life of Washington, and Ramsey's History of the Reyolutiou- 
4ry War, &c. 



STATE OF NEW-YOl||^ 3l"7 



CHAPTER X. 

The French fleet leanes the American coast — Sir Henry Clinton, 
with a powerful British army, invades South Carolina — 
Charleston invested by the British — General Lincoln is forced 
to surrender Charleston, in consequence of the inhabitants of 
South Carolina declining him aid — Detachments of the Bri- 
tish army march into the country — Sir Henry Clinton, with 
part of the British army, returns to Netv- York — Most of South 
Carolina submits to the British — Troops sent from the northern 
and middle states to oppose the British — Sumpter defeats a 
party of British troops and royalists — Baron de Kalb, with a 
body of continentals, arrives in South Carolina — Gates super- 
sedes de Kalb — The Americans, under Gates, march toivards 
Camden — Lord Cornwallis quits Camden, with the British 
army, and advances to meet Gates — Battle — The American 
army is defeated and dispersed — Sumpfeys corps surprised a 
few days after Gates'' defeat — Gates flies to Hillsborough, 
with a handful of men — Rigorous measures pursued by Lord 
Cornwallis — Baneful effects of slavery — Operations of Ma- 
rion — A large body of loyalists, under Colonel Ferguson, de- 
feated — Tarleton repulsed by Sumpter — General Greene takes 
the command of the Southern army — Lord Stirling Jails in 
an attempt to dislodge the British from Staten Island — Severi- 
ty of the winter — General Knyphausen mahs an inroad into 
New-Jersey with 5000 men — Disaffection in the army — The 
soldiers at Fort Schuyler, on the MoJiawk, mutiny — Two regi- 
ments of the Connecticut line follow their example — Distrvss 
of the American army — Is subsisted by forced requisitions — 
Derangement of the commissariat department — A committee, 
sfwhom General Schuyler was the heady deputed by Congnss 
to the American camp, to examine the condition of the army — 
Report of the committee — Grievances of the army are remedied 
^—General Schuyler ^ the principal of the committee, proposes 



318 SlISTORV OF THE 

apian for raising and subsisting the troops, which is acceded 
to — The friendly dispoiition oj the French — Arrival of M. de 
Ternay and Count de Rochambeau at Rhode Island, with 
powerful Jorces to aid the Americans — Sir Henry Clinton 
embarks 8000 men at ISiew-York, and sails for Rhode Hand, 
to attack the French — The royalists and Indians break twice 
into the Mohawk and Schoharie countries, and devastate them 
-^Treason of Arnold — Causes that led him to it — His cor- 
respondence with Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander, 
at New-York — He proposes to delwtr up West Point and its 
dependencies — Interview between Arnold and Major Andre, 
at the lines, &c. — Detention of Andrt — Arnold gives him a 
passport to White Plains, &c. — Andre taken by Paulding, 
Williams, and Van Wert, tf the New-York militia, and car- 
ried to Colonel Jameson, their commander — Andre apprises 
Arnold of his arrest and dt tention — Arnold flees on baard 
the Vulture, a British sloop of war, lying in the Hudson — 
Andre tried by a court-martial, and sentenced to death — 
Intercession by Sir Htnry Clinton in his behalf — Interview 
between General Robertson, of the British army, and General 
Greene, of the American, concerning Major Andre — Execu- 
tion of Andre — Arnold is created a brigadier-general in the 
British service — He issues an address to the American soldiers, 
and endeavours to seduce them, but fails — Great Britain de- 
clares war against the Netherlands — The British take St. 
Eustatid, and plunder the inhabitants. 

The successful defence of Savannah, together with the de- 
parture of Count D'Estaing, from the American coast, soon 
dissipated all apprehensions entertained for the safety of the 
city of New-York. These circumstances induced Sir Henry 
Clinton to renew offensive operations in the south. The suit- 
ableness of the climate for winter operations, and the weakness 
of the country, designated South Carolina as a proper object of 
enterprise. No sooner, therefore, was the departure of the 
French fleet known, than Sir Henry committed the command 
of tlie royal army in New-York, to Lieutenant-general Knyp- 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 319 

■faausen, and embarked for the southward, with four flank batta- 
lions, twelve regiments, and a corps of British, provincial and 
Hessian cavalry, and a detachment of artillery, together with 
ample supplies o( military stores of provisions. Vice-admiral 
Arbuthnot, with a large naval force, undertook to convey the 
troops to the place of their destination. The whole sailed from 
New-Vork on the twenty-sixth of December, 1779. After a 
tedious and dangerous passage, in which pari of their ordinance, 
most of their artillery, and all their cavalry horses, were lost, 
the fleet arrived at Tybee, in Georgia, on the twenty-first of 
January, 1780. In a few days, the transports, with the army 
on board, sailed from Savannah for North Edisto, and after a 
short passage, the troops made good their landing", about thirty 
miles from Charleston, and took possession of John's Island, 
and Stono Ferry, and soon after of James' Island and Wappoo 
Cut. A bridge was thrown over the canal, and part of the 
royal army took post on the banks of Ashley River, opposite to 
Charleston. Governor Rutledge immediately ordered the mi- 
litia to assemble, but very few obeyed. 

The tedious passage of the royal army from New-York to 
Tvbee, had given the Americans lime to fortify Charleston. 
This, together with losses which they had sustained in their 
passage, induced Sir Henry Clinton to send to New-York for 
reinforcements of men and stores. He also ordered General 
Provost to send him twelve hundred men from the garrison of 
Savannah. General Patterson, with these, soon after joined 
him. The royal forces proceeded to the siege on the twenty- 
ninth of March. At Wappoo, on James' Island, they formed a 
depot and erected fortifications, both on that island and on the 
main, opposite to the southern and western extremeties of 
Charleston. An advanced party crossed Ashley River, and 
soon after broke ground at the distance of eleven hundred 
yards from the American works. At successive periods they 
erected five batteries on the .Neck. The garrison was equally 
assiduous in preparing for its defence. The works which had 
previously been thrown up, were strengthened and extended. 
Works were raised on all sides of the town, where a landing was 



320 HISTORY OF THE 

practicable. Though the lines were no more than field works, 
Sir Henry Clinton treated them with the homage of three pa- 
rallels. From the third to the tenth of April, the first parallel 
was completed, and immediately after tlie town was summoned 
to surrender. On the twelfth, the batteries were opened, and 
from that day, an almost incessant fire was kept up. About 
the time the batteries were opened, a work was thrown up near 
Wando River, nine miles from the town, and another at Lem- 
priere's Point, to preserve the communication with the country 
by water. A post was also ordered at a lerry over the Saniee, 
to favour the coming in of reinforcements, or the retreat of the 
garrison. The British marine force, consisting of several ships 
of war, crossed the bar and anchored. The first object of Com- 
modore Whipple, the commander of the American force, was to 
fall back with his vessels to Fort Moultrie. This he was com- 
pelled to do, from the great disparity of his ships. The crews 
and guns of all his vessels, except one, were put on shore. 
This was about the twenty-first of March. 

Admiral Arburthnot, on the ninth of April, with a strong- 
southerly wind and tide, passed Fort Moultrie, and anchored 
near Fort Johnson. The batteries of the besiegers soon ob- 
tained a superiority over those of the besieged. The former had 
twenty -one mortars, and the latter only two. The regular force 
in the garrison was much inferior to that of the besiegers, and 
but few of the militia could be persuaded to leave their planta- 
tions and reinforce their brethern in the capitol. A camp had 
been formed at Monk's Corner, to keep up the communication 
between the town and country, and the militia without the lines, 
rendezvoued there, but they were surprised and routed by 
Colonel Tarelton. About the twentieth of April, Sir Henry 
Clinton received a reinforcement of three thousand men from 
New-York. A council of war, held by General Lincoln, ad- 
vised, that offers of capitulation, before their afi'airs became 
more critical, should be made to Sir Henry Clinton, which 
might admit of the army's withdrawing. These terms being 
proposed, were instantly rejected, but the garrison, under an 
expectation that succors would arrive, continued to hold out. 



# 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 321 

The British sonn compleled the investiture of the town both 
by land and water. 

Thus, while every thing prospered with the British, Sir 
Henry Clinton began a correspondence with General Lincoln, 
and renewed his former offers to the garrison, in case of their 
surrehder. Lincoln was disposed to close with them as far as 
they respected his army, but some demur was made with a 
view of gaining better terms for the citizens, which it was hop- 
ed might be obtained on a conference. This was asked, but 
Clinton, instead of granting it, answered that hostilities should 
recommence. The British batteries threw shells and carcasses 
into almost every part of the town, and several houses were 
burnt. The enemy's works were soon advanced within one 
hundred yards of those of the garrison, and every thing was 
in readiness for making a general assault by land and water. 
All expectation of succor was at an end ; the only hope left 
was, that nine thousand men, the flower of the British army, 
seconded by a naval force, might fail in storming lines, defend- 
ed by three thousand men. Under these circumstances the 
siege was protracted to the eleventh of May, On that day a 
great number of the citizens addressed General Lincoln in a 
petition, expressing their acquiescence in the terms which Sir 
Henry Clinton had offered, and requesting his acceptance of 
them. On the reception of this petition. General Lincoln 
wrote to Sir Henry Clinton, and offered to accept the terms 
before proposed, which being acceded to, a capitulation was 
signed, and Major-general Leslie took possession of the town 
the next day. During the siege, the British had seventy-six 
killed and one hundred and eighty-nine wounded ; and the 
Americans eighty-nine killed and one hundred and forty wound- 
ed.. By the articles of capitulation the garrison was to march 
out of the town, and deposite their arms in front of the works, 
but the drums were not to beat a British march, nor were the 
colours to be uncased. The continentals and seamen Wefe 
to remain prisoners of war till exchanged, and the militia were 
fo be permitted to return home as prisoners on parole. 

The numbers which surrendered prisoners of war, inclusive 

VOL.' III. 41 



322 HISTORY OF THE 

of the militia, and every adult male inhabitant, was about five 
thousand, but the proper garrison did not exceed two thousand 
five hundred men. 

This was the first instance in which the Americans had at- 
tempted to defend a town. The unsuccessful event demonstrated 
the policy of sacrificing the towns of the Union in preference 
to endangering the whole by risking too much for their defence. 

Shortly after the surrender, Sir Henry Clinton adopted 
sundry measures to induce the inhabitants to return to their 
allegiance, but without effect. 

The capital having surrendered, the next object of the British 
was to secure the submission of the whole body of the people. 
To this end they posted garrisons in different parts of the country 
to awe the inhabitants. They also marched with upwards of 
two thousand men, towards North Carolina. This caused an 
immediate retreat of some parties of Americans who had advanc- 
ed into the northern extremity of South Carolina, with the ex- 
pectation of relieving Charleston. One of these, consisting of 
three hundred continentals, commanded by Colonel Buford, 
was overtaken at Waxhaws by Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, 
and completely defeated. Five out of six of the whole were 
either killed, or so badly wounded, as to be incapable of being 
moved from the field of battle ; and this took place, though 
they made such ineffectual opposition, as only to kill twelve 
and wound five of the British. Tarleton's party refused quar- 
ter to the Americans, after they had laid down their arms. 

Sir Henry Clinton, having left about four thousand men for 
the southern service, embarked early in June with the main army 
for New-York. On his departure, the command devolved on 
Lord Cornwallis. The season of the year, the condition of 
the army, and the unsettled state of South Carolina, impeded 
the immediate invasion of North Carolina. Lord Cornwallis 
dispatched instructions to the principal loyalists in that state to 
attend to the harvest, prepare provisions, and remain till the 
first of September. His lordship committed the care of the 
frontier to Lord Rawdon, and repaired to Charleston. In the 
mean time, the people in the country abandoned farther resist- 



STATE OF NEW-YORK, 323 

ance. At Beaufort, Camden, and Ninety Six, tiiey generally 
laid down their anns, and submitted as prisoners or subjects. 
In a short time the greater part of the slate made its submission. 
This was followed by a calm, and the British believed that the 
state was conquered. There was now no regul;ir force to the 
southward of Pennsylvania, which was sufficient to awe the 
friends of the ro3al government. Encouragement was held 
forth to those who would with arms support the old constitution, 
and confiscation and death were threatened as the consequence 
of resisting it. 

The precautions taken to prevent the rising of the royalists 
in North Carolina, did not answer the end. Several of the in- 
habitants of Tryon county, under the direction of Colonel 
Moore, took up arms, but in a few days were defeated by the 
militia, commanded by General Rutherford. Colonel Bryan, 
another loyalist, was successful, and reached the seventy-first 
regiment, stationed in the Cheraws, with eight hundred men. 

While the British were endeavouring to strengthen the party 
for the royal government, the Americans were not inattentive. 
Governor Rulledge, who had left Charleston before the siege 
was commenced, was industriously engaged in collecting forces 
to oppose the progress of the enemy. Congress also ordered 
a considerable detachment from their main army to be march- 
ed to the southward: North Carolina likewise ordered a large 
body of militia to take the field. As the royal forces advanced 
to the upper country of South Carolina, a number of whigs, 
under Colonel Sumpter, retired to North Carolina. At the 
head of these, he soon returned to his own state and took the 
field. This unexpected opposition to the extension of British 
conquests, roused all the passions which disappointment could 
inspire.* • 

The first effort of renewed warfire was two months after the 
fall of Charleston, when one hundred and thirty-thiee of Colo- 
nel Sumpter's corps attacked and routed a detachment of the 
royal forces and militia, at Williamson's plantation. This was 
the first advantage gained over the British since their landing 
in the state. The people living in the northwestern frontier of 



324 



HISTORY OF THE 



South Carolina turned out, and joined Sumpter, though oppo- 
sition to the British government had entirely ceased in every 
other part of the state. His troops in a few days amounted to 
six hundred men. With these he made an attack on a party of 
British at Rocky Mount, but owing to the strength of their 
position was obliged to retreat. Soon afterwards he attacked 
the Prince of Wales' regiment, and a body of tories, at the 
Hanging Rock, and gained a complete victory. The Prince 
of Wales' regiment was reduced from two hundred and seventy- 
eight to nine men. The loyalists under Colonel Bryan were 
dispersed. The panic occasioned by the fall of Charleston 
daily abated. The militia on the extremities of the state form- 
ed themselves into parties, under leaders of their own choice. 
W^hile Sumpter kept up the spirits of the people by a succession 
of gallant enterprises, a respectable continental force was ad- 
vancing from the north, for the relief of the southern states. 
This forpe was at first under the command of Major-general 
Baron de Kalb, and afterwards of General Gates. The success 
of the latter in the northern campaign of 1777, induced many 
to believe that his presence, as commander of the southern 
army, would reanimata the friends of independence. While 
Baron de Kalb commanded, a council of war had advised him 
to file off from the direct road to Camden, towards the settle- 
ments in the vicinity of the Waxhaws: but General Gates on 
assuming the command did not conceive this movement to be 
necessary, supposing it to be most for the interest of the states 
that he should proceed immediately with his army on the short- 
est road, to the neighbourhood of the British encampments. 
This led through a barren country, in passing over which the 
Americans severely felt the scarcity of provisions. Their mur- 
murs became audible, and there were strong appgarances of 
mutiny, but the officers conciliated them to a patient sufferance 
of their hard lot. The troops principally subsisted on lean cat- 
tle picked up in the woods, and green corn and peaches : dy- 
senteries became common in consequence of their food. The 
heat of the season, the unhealthiness of the climate, together 
with insufficient and unwholesome food, menaced the destruction 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 325 

of the army. At length the Americans approached near to 
Camden. The next day, it being the 14ih ot August, General 
Stephens arrived with a numerous body of Virginia militia. 

As the American army approached, Lord Rawdon concen- 
trated his forces at Camden. The retreat of the British from 
their outposts, and the advances of the American army, induced 
the inhabitants to revolt. The army of General Gates amount- 
ed to four thousand men, but of this only about one thousand 
were continentals On the approach of Gates, Lord Cornwal- 
lis liastened from Charleston to Camden, and arrived there on 
the fourteenth. The force which his lordship lound collected 
there was seventeen hundred infantry and three hundred cavalry. 
This inferior number would have justified a retreat, but he chose 
rather to stake his fortune on the decision of a battle. On the 
night of the fifteenth of August, he marched from Camden with 
his whole force, intending to attack the Americans in their camp 
at Clermont. Li the same night, General Gates, after ordering 
his baggage to the VVaxhaws, put his army in motion, with an 
intention of advancing to an eligible position about eight miles 
from Camden. The American army was ordered to march at 
ten o'clock at night in the following order : Colonel Armand's 
advance cavalry ; Colonel Porterfield's infantry, on the right 
flank of Colonel Armand's, in Indian file, two hundred yards 
from the road ; Major Armstrong's infantry, in the same order 
as Porterfield's, on the left flank of the advanced guard of foot, 
composed of the advanced pickets, first brigade of Maryland, 
second brigade of Maryland j division of North Carolina, Vir- 
ginia rear-guard, volunteer cavalry, upon the flanks of the bag- 
gage, were equally divided. The light infantry upon each flank 
were ordered to march up and support the cavalry, it it should 
be attacked by the British cavalry, and Colonel Arniand was 
directed in that case to stand the attack at all events. 

The advance of both armies met in the night and engaged. 
Some of the cavalry of Armand, being wounded in the ^rst fire, 
fell back on others, who recoiled so suddenly, that the first 
Maryland regiment was broken, and the whole line of the army 
was thrown into confusion. This first impression struck deep, 



326 HISTORY OP THE 

and dispirited the militia. The American army, however, soon 
recovered its order, and both they and their adversaries kept 
their ground, and occasionally skirmished through the night. In 
the morning a general engagement took place. At the first 
onset, the great body of the Virginia militia, who formed the left 
wing of the anuy, on being charged with fixed bayonets by the 
British infantry, threw down their arms, and with the utmost 
precipitation fled from the field. A considerable part of the 
North Carolina militia followed this unworthy example, but 
the continentals, who formed the right wing of the army, stood 
their ground and maintained the conflict against superior num- 
bers with great resolution. Never did soldiers acquit them- 
selves better ; for some time they had the advantage of their 
opponents ; overpowered at last by numbers, and nearly sur- 
rounded by the enemy, they were compelled reluctantly to 
leave the ground. Part of a brigade of North Carolina militia, 
commanded by General Gregory, acquitted themselves well, and 
did not retire before they had expended all their ammunition.—- 
Two hundred and ninety American prisoners, wounded in this 
action, were carried into Camden. The Americans, in this 
disastrous battle, lost all their artillery, upwards of two hundred 
wagons, and the greater part of their baggage. Every corps 
was broken in action and dispersed. The fugitives, who fled 
bv the common road, were pursued upwards of twenty miles, 
by the horse of Tarleton's legion, and the way was covered 
with arms, baggage and wagons. Baron de Kalb, the second 
in command, a brave and meritorious officer, was mortally 
wounded and made a prisoner. 

The royal army fought with great bravery, but the complete- 
ness of their victory was in a great degree owing to the supe- 
riority of their cavalry, and the precipitate flight of the militia. 
Their whole loss is supposed to have amounted to several hun- 
dred men. The defeat of Gates was followed by the surprise 
and dispersion of Surapter's corps. 

On the seventeenth and eighteenth of August, about one hun- 
dred and fifty of Gates' army rendezvoused at Charlotte. From 
thence they retreated to Salisbury, and soon after to Hillsbo- 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 327 

rough. A circumstantial detail of the condition of the wrecks 
of Gates' army, at Charlotte, presents a picture of complicated 
wretchedness. There were more wounded men than could be 
carried off. The inhabitants, hourly expecting the British to 
tdvance into their settlement, and generally intending to flee, 
could not, or would not, attend to the accommodation of the suf- 
fering soldiers. Objects of distress occurred in every quarter. 
Several soldiers were to be seen with but one arm, and some 
without any. 

At Hillsborough, General Gates, in concert with the govern- 
ment of North Carolina, set about devising plans of defence, 
and for renewing military operations. 

Though there was now no army to oppose Lord Cornwallis, 
yet the season and bad health of his army, restrained him from 
pursuing his conquests. The defeat and dispersion of the con- 
tinental army had left the country mostly in his power. To 
prevent the future co-operation of the inhabitants with the ar- 
mies of Congress, severe measures were adopted. Orders were 
given by Lord Cornwallis, that all the inhabitants of the pro- 
vince, who had submitted to his Britannic Majesty's arms, and 
who had taken part in the revolt, as it was called, should be 
punished with rigour ; that they should be imprisoned, and their 
whole property taken from them or destroyed. He also or- 
dered, that every militia*man who had borne arms with the Bri- 
tish, and afterwards joined the Americans, should be put to 
death. At Camden, at Augusta, and elsewhere, several of the 
inhabitants were hanged in consequence of these orders. 

Notwithstanding the superiority of the British armies, and 
these rigorous measures, several of the citizens of South Caro- 
lina refused to assume the character of subjects. To enforce a 
general submission, orders were given by Lord Cornwallis, to 
sfend out of the state a number of the principal citizens. Lieu- 
tenant-governor Gadsden, most of the civil and military officers, 
and some others, were taken up, put on board of a vessel^ and 
sent to St. Augustine. 

To compel the re-establishment of the royal government^ 
Lord Cornwallis, on the sixteenth of September, issued a pro- 



328 HISTORY or nil: 

clamation for the sequestration of all ilie estates belonging to 
the active friends of independence. 

An adherent to the cause of America was now considered as 
one who courted exile, poverty, and ruin. Many yielded to the 
temptation, and became British subjects. The mischievous 
efiects of slavery, in facilitating the conquest of the country, 
now became apparent. As the slaves had no interest at slake, 
the subjugation of the state was a matter of no consequence to 
them. Instead of aiding in its defence, they, by a variety of 
means, threw the weight of their influence into the opposite 
scale. 

Though numbers broke through all the ties which bound 
them to support the cause of America, illustrious sacrifices were 
made. Several of the richest men in the state suffered their 
fortunes to remain in the possession of their conquerors, rather 
than stain their honour by joining the enemies of their country. 
The patriotism of the ladies contributed much to this firmness j 
they went on board of prison ships, and to other places of con- 
finement, to solace their countrymen. Animated by such ex- 
amples, as well as by a high sense of honour and love of coun- 
try, some of the gentlemen of South Carolina adhered to ihtir 
first resolution of risking life and fortune in support of inde- 
pendence. Hitherto the royal forces in South Carolina had 
met with almost uninterrupted succesis. They overspread the 
country, and penetrated into every quarter. 

The British ministry, by this flattering posture of their aflairs, 
^ere once more buoyed up with the hope of subjugating Ame- 
rica. New plans were formed, and expectations indulged, of 
speedily reuniting the different members of the empire. 

The defeat of Gates, and the dispersion of his army, over- 
spread at first the face of American affairs with gloom, but this 
was gradually dispelled. A few weeks after the defeat of Gates, 
General Marion, with a few men, left North Carolina, and re- 
turned to South Carolina, where he commenced operations 
against small parties of the enemy. For several weeks he had 
not over seventy men. Various schemes were tried by the ene- 
my to prevent the inhabitants from co-operating with him. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK, 329 

Major Weniys burned many houses on Pedoe River, Lynch's 
Creek, and Blmk River, belonging to s*uch as were supposed 
to favour Marion. This rigorous eo-irse had an effect differ- 
ent from what it was intended. Despair and revt nge co-ope- 
rated with patriotism to make these ruined men take the field. 
Having no houses to shelter then), the casnps of their country- 
men became their homes. For several months, Marion and his 
party were obliged to sleep in the o[.en air, without tents, ami 
to shelter themselves in the recesses of swamps. From these 
retreats they sallied out, whenever an opportunity of harassing 
the enemy presented itself. Sumpter, who had \een promoted 
to the rank of brigadier-general by Governor Rutledge, had 
also returned alter his defeat, having previously collected a 
small band of men, and was busily engaged in a similar mode 
of warfare. 

Opposition to the British government was, however, not 
wholly confined to the parties commanded by Sumpter and 
Marion. The disposition to revolt, which had been excited on 
the approach of General Gates, was not destroyed by his defeat. 
The spirit of the people, although overawed, was not subdued. 
The severity with which some of the revolters, who had fallen 
into the hands of the enemy, were treated, induced those who 
escaped to persevere, and seek safety in swamps. 

From the time of the general submission of the inhabitants, 
the British endeavoured to form a royal militia. Major Fer- 
guson, of the seventy-first regiment, was particularly active in 
this business. He visited the settlements of the disafi'ected, and 
collected a corps of militia, from which much was expected. 
With these he advanced to the northwestern districts, to hold 
communication with the loyalists of both Carolinas. 

That spirit of martial enterprise, which had begun to show 
itself among some of the American militia in the southern states, 
about this time, prompted Colonel Clark to make an attempt 
on the British post at Augusta, in Georgia, but in this he fail- 
ed. Major Ferguson, with the hope of intercepting his party, 
kept near the mountains, and at a distance from support. This 
circumstance, together with the depredations of the loyalists, 

VOL. Iir. 42 



330 HISTORY OF THE 

induced tliose inhabitants,' who dwelt on the west side ot* the 
Alletihany mountains, to form an enterprise against that dis^ 
tinguished partisan. Colonels Campbell, Cleveland, Shelby, 
Sevier, Macdowel, Lacy, Hawthorn, and Hill rendezvoused, 
with sixteen hundred men. Out of these they selected about 
one thousand of their best men, and mounted them on their 
fleetest horses, and set out by forced marches. These, coming 
up with Ferguson on the top of King's mountain, near the con- 
fines of North and South Carolina, attacked him with vigour. 
Ferguson, with great boldness, resisted the assailants, and with 
fixed bayonets, compelled them to retire ; but they only fell back 
a short way, and then, getting behind trees and rocks, renewed 
the contest. The loyalists, being uncovered, were aimed at by 
the American marksmen, and many of them were slain. After 
a severe conflict, in which their commander was mortally wound- 
ed, they surrendered, to the number of eight hundred. Two 
hundred and twenty-five were killed or wounded. In this ac- 
tion very few of the Americans fell, but among these was Colo- 
nel Williams. Ten of the royalists, who had surrendered, were 
hanged. The fall of Ferguson was in itself a great loss to the 
royal cause. He possessed superior abilities as a partisan, and 
his spirit of enterprise was uncommon. The unexpected ad- 
vantage which the Americans gained over him and his party, 
in a great degree, frustrated a well concerted scheme for 
strengthening the British army, by the co-operation of the 
loyal inhabitants, whom he had undertaken to discipline and 
prepare for service. The route of the party under Ferguson 
operated as a check on the future exertions of those who were 
disposed to aid the rayal cause. 

In a few weeks after the defeat of Gates, Lord Cornwallis 
left a small force at Camden, and marched with the main army 
towards Salisbury. While on his way thither, the North Caro- 
lina militia was successful in annoying his detachments. The 
defeat of Major Ferguson, added to these circumstances, induced 
Cornwallis soon after to retreat to Winnsborough. As he re- 
tired, the militia took several of his wagons, and killed some of 
his men. The panic occasioned by the disaster of Gates had 



STATE OF NEVV-yOIlK. 331 

in a measure abated. The defeat of Ferguson, and the retreat 
of Cornwallis, encouraged the mihtia to take tlie field. General 
Sumpter, having mounted his followers, made frequent attacks 
on Irritish parties, beat up their quarters, intercepted their con- 
voys, and straitened the operations of the army. Lord Corn- 
wallis laid several plans for destroying his force, but they all 
failed. He was attacked at Broad River, by Major VVemys, 
with a corps of infantry and horse. In this action the British 
were defeated, and their commander made a prisoner. This 
was on the twelfth of November. On the twentieth he was at- 
tjacked at Black Stocks, near Tyger River, by Lieutenant- 
colonel Tarleton, with one hundred and seventy cavalry and 
eighty infantry. Tarleton charged with his dragoons, but was 
compelled to retreat, with the loss of many of his men. 

For the three months which followed the defeat of the Amer- 
ican army near Camden, General Gates was preparing to take 
the field. Having collected a force at Hillsborough, he ad- 
vanced to Salisbury, and soon after to Charlotte, where he was 
superceded by General Greene. Nothing worthy of being par- 
ticularly mentioned happened in the south, during the residue 
of the campaign. Though the British had in general been 
successful, yet they had derived no solid advantages. 

While the war raged in South Carolina, the campaign of 
1780, in the northern and middle states, was languid. At the 
close of the year 1779, the grand American army encamped at 
Morristown, in the State of New-Jersey, where they built huts 
for their accommodation. This position being only twenty miles 
from the city of New-York, was well calculated to cover the 
country from the excursions of the British troops. 

In January 1780, Lord Stirling made an ineffectual attempt 
to surprise a party of the British on Staten Lsland. While he 
was on the island, several persons from the New-Jersey side, 
passed over and plundered a number of persons, who submitted 
to the British. In these times, licentious persons fixed them- 
selves near the lines, whjch. divided the British from the Ameri- 
cans, and when ever opportunities offered, they were in the habit 
of going within the settlements of the opposite party, and com- 
mitting depredations. 



332 HISTORY OF THE 

In the winter of 1780, while the royal army was weakened 
by the expedition against Charleston, the British were appre- 
hensive for their safiety in New-York. The weather became 
so excessively severe, that the Hudson, East River, New- York 
Bay, the Kills and Narrows, were covered with thick ice, which 
remained fixed for about forty days. 

During tliis time, the heaviest loads were drawn over the ice, 
as though it had been a bridge. The British, availing them- 
selves of the facilities it offered, transported cannon, and other 
munitions of war, to Staten Island. General Knyphausen, who 
then commanded at New- York, fearing that Washington would 
avail himself of the opportunity of crossing the ice and attack- 
ing the city, embodied considerable numbers of the able bodied 
citizens, and compelled them to do military duties for its de- 
fence. But the weakness of the American army, and the 
strength of the British force at the latter place, induced VVash- 
inglou to put nothing at hazard, but to remain where he was, 
and to preserve liis army. 

In June, General Knyphausen made an incursion into New- 
Jersey, with five thousand men. He landed at Elizabethtown, 
and proceeded to Connecticut Farms. While on his way, a 
skirmish ensued between sofne of his men and some Ameri- 
cans, in which a ball passed through the window of the house 
of the Reverend James Caldwell, and killed his wife. The 
British burnt the meeting-house, and twelve other buildings, 
at this place, and then continued their march to Springfield. 
As they advanced, they were annoyed by Colonel Dayton with 
a few militia. On their approach to the bridge near the town, 
they were farther opposed by General Wayne, who was pre- 
pared with some continentals to dispute its passage. But they 
made a halt, and shortly after returned to Elizabethtown. Be- 
fore they had retreated, Washington, with the whole army, had 
set out from Morristown to oppose them. While Knyphausen 
was in New-Jersey, Sir Henry Clinton retitrned from Charles- 
ton to New- York, with part of his forces'. 

He immediately sent a reinforcetnenl to Knyphausen, when 
that general advanced a second time towards Springfield. 
General Greene now opposed him with a considerable body of 



• STATE OF NEW- YORK. 333 

conlinentals. Colonel Angel, with his regiment, was posted to 
secure the bridge in front of the town. A severe action ensued, 
which lasted forty niinuios, but the Americans, owing to the 
superior numbers of the enem}^, were forced to fall back a little 
distance. General Greene then took post on a range of hills in 
hopes of being attacked. Bui instead of this, the British burnt 
the town, containing nearly fifty houses. Alter this, they re- 
tired, but were followed by the militia as far as Elizabethtown. 
The next day they left that place, and returned to New-York. 
The loss of ihe Americans, in the action at Springfield, was 
about eighty men, and that of the enemy, somewhat more. By 
such desultory operations were hostilities carried on in the 
northern states. The American refugees, within the British 
lines, had by tins time reduced predatory warfare into a system. 
They had a small fleet of privateers at New-York, by the aid 
of which they committed many depradations. They embraced 
every opportunity which offered to gratify their avarice and re- 
venge. Their predatory excursions were olten lucrative to 
themselves and detrimental to the Americans, especially to the 
people of New- Jersey, New-York and Connecticut, who lived 
adjacent to the city of New-York, and the navigable waters, 
communicating and leading from the latter city. The facility 
of transportation, and their knowledge of the country, enabled 
ihem to make sudden descents, and successful expeditions. la 
these expeditions, the feelings of humanity were usually sus- 
pended, and full rein was given lo plunder and revenge. 

The distress which the Americans sufiered from the diminish- 
ed value of the paper currency, though felt in ihe year 1778, 
and still more so in 1779, did not arrive to its highest pitch till 
the year 1780. Under the pressure of sufferings from this 
cause, the officers of the New- Jersey line, addressed a memorial 
to their state legislature, setting forth the pecuniary embar- 
rassraents under which they laboured. They urged, that unless 
a speedy remedy was provided, the total dissolution of their line 
was inevitable. In addition to the insufficiency of their pay 
and support, other causes of discontent prevailed. The origi- 
nal idea of a continental afmy to be raised, paid, subsisted and 



334 HISTORY OF THE 

regulated upon an equal and uniform principle, had been in a 
great measure exchanged for state establishments. Congress 
not possessing the means of supporting the army, devolved the 
business on the different states. Some states, from their ability, 
furnished their troops not only with clothing, but with conve- 
niences. Others supplied them with some necessities, but on a 
contracted scale. A few, from their particular situation, could 
do little or nothing. The officers and men mixed daily, and 
compared circumstances. Those who fared worse ihan others, 
were dissatisfied with a service which made such distinctions. 
From causes of this kind, and a complication of wants and 
sufferings, a disposition to mutiny began to show itself in the 
army. This broke forth into full action among the soldiers 
stationed at Fort Schuyler, on the Mohawk. Thirty-one of 
the men of that garrison went of in a body. Being pursued, 
sixteen were overtaken, and thirteen of them wrre instantly 
killed. About the same time, two regiments o< the Connecticut 
troops mutinied and got under arms. They determined to re- 
turn home, or to gain subsistence at' the point of the bayonet. 
Their officers reasoned with them, and after much expostulation 
they were prevailed upon to return to their huts- It is remark- 
able that this mutinous disposition of the (.'onnecticut troops 
was, in a measure, quelled by the Pennsylvania line, which, in a 
few months, planned and executed a much more serious one. 
While the army was in this state of discontent from their dis- 
tresses, a printed paper, addressed to the soldiers of the army, 
was circulated in the camp. This was in the following words : 

" The time is at length arrived, when all the artifices and 
falsehoods of the Congress, and of your commanders, can no 
longer conceal from you the miseries of your situation. Tou 
are neither fed, clothed, nor paid. Your numbers are wasting 
away by sickness, famine and nakedness, and rapidly so, by the 
period of your stipulated time being expired. This is now the 
period to fly from slavery and fraud. 

" I am happy in acquainting my old countrymen, that the 
affairs of Ireland are fully settled, and that Great Britain and 
Ireland are united as well from interest as affection. I need 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 335" 

not tell you, who are born in America, that you have been 
cheated and abused. You are both sensible, that in order to 
procure your liberty, you must quit your leaders and join your 
real friends, who scorn to impose upon you, and who will re- 
ceive you with open arms, kindly forgiving all your errors. 
You are told you are surrounded by a numerous militia. This 
is also false. Associate then together, make use of your fire- 
locks, and join the British army, where you will be permitted 
to dispose of yourselves as you please." 

But such was the firmness of the soldiery, and so strong was 
their attachment to the cause of their country, that though 
danger impelled, want urged, and British favour invited them 
to change sides, yet on the arrival of but a scanty supply of 
meat, for their immediate subsistence, military duty was cheer- 
fully performed. 

So great were the necessities of the army, that Washington 
was obliged to call on the magistrates of the adjacent counties, 
for specified quantities of provisions, to be supplied in a given 
number of days. At other times he was compelled to send out 
detachments of troops to take provisions. This expedient at 
length failed, for the country in the vicinity afibrded no further 
supplies. These impressments tended to alienate the afiections 
of the people. Washington, whom the inhabitants hitherto 
had regarded as their protector, had now no alternative but to 
disband his army or to support it by force. The army looked 
to him for provisions, the inhabiunts for protection. To sup- 
ply the one and not offend the other, z^emed an impossibility. 
To pri^serve order and subordination in an army, even when 
well fed, paid, and clothed, are works of difficulty ; but to re- 
tain them in service, and restrain them with discipline, when 
destitute, required address and abilities of such magnitude as 
are rarely found in commanders. 

So great a scarcity, in a country usually abounding with 
provisions, appears extraordinary ; but various cases had con- 
curred to produce a deficiency. The seasons, both in 1779 
and 1780, were unfavourable to the crops. The labours of 
the husbandmen had been frequently interrupted by the calls 



336 HISTORY OF THE 

for milila dut3^ The depreciation of ihe paper currency in- 
duced many to hold back supplies. 

In addition to the disasters from short crops, and depreciat- 
ing money, disorder an-d confusion pervaded the departments 
for supplying the army. Systems for these purposes had been 
hastily adopted, and were very inadequate to the end propos- 
ed. Abuses crept in, frauds were practised, and economy 
was exiled. 

To obviate these evils, Congress sent a committee from their 
own body, consisting of Messrs. Schuyler, Peabody and Mat- 
thews, to the camp of the main armj', to make enquiries, reform 
abuses, alter preceding systems, and establish new ones. These 
gentlemen proceeded to the camp in May 1780, and thence 
wrote letters to Congress and the states. They stated that the 
army was unpaid for five months. That it seldom had more 
than six days provision in advance, and had, on several occa- 
sions, for sundry days, been without meat : that the army was 
destitute of forage : that the medical department had neither 
sugar, coffee, tea, chocolate, wine, nor spiritous liquors of .» 
any kind : that every department of the army was without 
money, and had not even the shadow of credit left. That the 
patience of the soldiers, born down by the pressure of com- 
plicated sufferings, was on the point of being exhausted. 

A tide of misfortunes from all quarters was at this time pour- 
ing in upon the United States. There appeared not, however, 
in their public bodies, O^c smallest disposition to purchase 
safety by concessions of any sort. They seemed to rise in the 
midst of their distresses, and to gain strength from the pres- 
sure of calamities. When Congress could neither command 
money nor credit for the subsistence of the army, the citizens of 
Philadelphia formed an association to procure a supply of ne- 
cessary articles for their suffering soldiers. The sum of three 
hundred thousand dollars was subscribed, and converted into a 
bank, to purchase provisions for the troops. The advantages 
of this institution were great. The loss of Charleston, and the 
victories of the British in South Carolina, produced effects the 
reverse of what were expected. The flame which had blazed 



STATE OF N'EW-YORK. 357 

tbrth iu tlje beginning of the war was rekindled. A willingness 
to dd and to suffer was revived in the breasts of many. 'J'hese 
dispositions were invigorated by private assurances, that the 
French would, in the course of the campaign, send a powerful 
armament to their aid. 

The powers of the committee of Congress in the camp were 
enlarged. They wrote sundry letters to the states, stimulating 
them to exertions. It was agreed to make arrangements for 
bringing into the (!eld thirty-five thousand men, and to call on 
the states for specific supplies of every thing necessary for their 
support. To obtain the men, it was proposed to complete the 
regular regiments by drafts from the militia, and to make up 
what they fell short of thirty-five thousand effectives, by calling 
forth more of the militia. Every motive concurred to rouse 
the activity of the inhabitants. The states, nearly exhausted 
with the war, wished for its termination. An opportunity 
now offered for striking a decisive blow. The only thing re- 
quired, was to bring thirty-five thousand men into the field, 
and to make arrangements for their support. Accurate esti- 
mates were made of every article of supply for the ensuing cam- 
paign. These, and also the numbers of men wanted, were 
quoted on the ten northern states. In conformity to these re- 
quisitions, vigorous resolutions were adopted for carrying them 
into effect. Where voluntary enlistments fell short, the defi- 
ciencies were, by the laws of the several states, to be made up 
of drafts from the militia. The towns in New England, and 
the counties in the middle states, were called on. 

Such was the zeal of the people in New England, that neigh- 
bours would often club together to engage one of their number 
to go into the army. Being without money, they paid for mili- 
tary duty with cattle. Twenty head were frequently given as 
a reward for eighteen months' service. Maryland directed her 
lieutenants of counties to class all the property in their respec- 
tive counties into as many classes as there were men wanted, 
and each class was obliged, within ten days thereafter, to fur- 
nish a recruit to serve during the war. Virginia also classed 
her citizens, and called upon the respective classes fqr every fif- 

VOL. III. 43 



338 HISTORY OF THE 

teenth man. Pennsylvania authorized Joseph Reid, her presir 
dent, to draw forth the resources of the state, and, if necessary, 
to declare martial law. The legislative part of these arrange- 
ments were speedily passed, but the execution lingered for some 
time. 

While these preparations were making, the armament which 
h^d been promised by the king of France was on its way. The 
disposition to support the American revolution was not only 
prevalent in the court of France, but it animated the whole na- 
tion. The winds did not second the wishes of the French 
troops. Though they sailed from France on the first of May, 
they did not reach a port in the United States till the tenth of 
July. On that day M. de Ternay arrived at Rhode Island, 
with seven sail of the line and five frigates, besides smaller 
armed vessels and transports, having on board six" thousand 
troops, under the Count de Rochambeau. In a few days after 
their arrival, an address of congratulation from the assembly of 
Rhode Island was presented to Count Rochambeau. In his 
answer, the Count declared that he only brought over the van- 
guard of a much greater force, which was destined for their aid ; 
that he was ordered by the King to assure them, that his whole 
power should be exerted for their support. 

Admiral Arbuthnot had only four sail of the line at New- 
York, when M. de Ternay arrived al Rhode Island. This in- 
feriority was in three days reversed, by the arrival of Admiral 
Greaves, with six sail of the line. The British admiral, now- 
having a superiority, proceeded to Rhode Island, but he soon 
discovered that the French were secure from attack. Sir Henry 
Clinton embarked about eight thousand men, and proceeded as 
far as Huntingdon Bay, on Long Island, with the design of con- 
curring with the fleet in attacking the French. When this 
movement took place, Washington set his army in motion, and 
marched to Peekskill, in order to attack New-York in Clinton's 
absence. The latter, however, on being apprised of this move- 
ment, returned. 

In the mean time the French fleet and army being blocked 
up at Rhode Island, were incapacitated from co-operating with 
the Americans. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK, 3^39 

The state of New-York continued to sntler from the depre- 
dations of the tories and Indians. These, in the month of Au- 
gust, burst into the Mohawk and Schoharie countries, and burnt 
many houses and barns, destroyed niucli private property, and 
killed numbers of the inhabitants. In the towns of Canajoharie 
and Schoharie alone, eighty .houses and seventy barns were de- 
voted to the flames. A party of the same incendiaries went 
from Schoharie to Norman's Kill, in the county of Albany, and 
burnt twenty houses. 

In the month of October of the same year, they made a se- 
cond irruption into these countries, and laid them entirely waste. 
They killed a number of the settlers, and made many prisoners, 
whom they carried into Canada. Between Stone Arabia Church 
and Palatine Bridge they defeated a detachment of continen- 
tals, consisting of nearly three hundred men. In this action 
Major Brown, the commander, and about forty soldiers, fell. 
While ravaging the parts contiguous to the village of Johqs- 
town. Colonel Willet attacked them with great spirit, and com- 
pelled them to withdraw, but he was unable to push his advan- 
tage, owing to their superior numbers. In this inroad the ene- 
my fired not only houses, barns, and mills, but grain in the 
stack. The commanders were Sir John Johnson and Colonel 
Brandt, The former was the son of Sir William Johnson, who 
had so greatly distinguished himself in the conquest of Canada. 
The wanton destruction of private property, and the murder of 
individuals, without any justifiable cause, in these inroads, made 
in his native country, have very justly brought great odium on 
the character of Sir John Johnson. The inhabitants, in their 
persons and property, vt'ere entitled to that treatment and re- 
spect which the usages of modern warfare prescribe. 

The American government, by its agent. General Schuyler, 
had respected the person and property of Sir John Johnson in 
1776, and this at a time when he was plotting machinations for 
its destruction. It had set him at liberty, after he had stipulat- 
ed to take no part in the existing contest. This alone ought to 
have induced a different course of conduct on his part. 

The campaign, in the northern states, passed away, in a m^a- 



340 HISTORY Oi THE 

sure, in disappoiiUmeiits and distresses. The country was ex- 
liansted. The army, for want of subsistence, kept inactive and 
brooding over its calamities. While the disasters were menac- 
ing the ruin of the American cause, treachery was silently un- 
dermining it. That distinguished officer, General Arnold, en- 
gaged, for a stipulated sum of money, to betray into the hands 
of the British, an important post committed to his care. He 
had been among the first to take up arms against Great Britain. 
His distinguished military talents had procured him every ho- 
nour a grateful country could bestow. He possessed an elevat- 
ed seat in the hearts of his countrymen, and was in the full en- 
joyment of fame. His country had loaded him with honours. 
Though in his accounts against the states, there was much 
room to suspect fraud, yet the recollection of his gallantry and 
good cond ict, in a great measure, served to cover the whole. 
He, who had been prodigal of life in his country's cause, was in- 
dulged m extraordinary demands for his services. The gene- 
rosity of the states did not keep pace with his extravagance. A 
sumptuous table and expensive equipage, unsupported by the 
resources of private fortune, unguarded by economy and good 
mauagement, soon increased his debts beyond a possibility of 
his discharging them. His love of pleasure produced the love 
of money, and that, as is but too often the case with men, extin- 
guished all sensibility to the obligations of honour and duty. 
The calls of luxury were various and pressing, and demanded 
gratification, though at the expense of fame and country. 
Contracts were made, speculations were entered into, and part- 
nerships instituted, which could not bear investigation. Op- 
pression, extortion, misapplication of public money and proper- 
ty, furnished him with the further means of gratifying his pas- 
sions. In these circumstances, a change of sides afibrded the 
only hope of evading a scrutiny, and at the same time held out 
a prospect of replenishing his exhausted coffers. The disposi- 
tion of the American forces, in the year 1780, afforded an op- 
portunity of accomplishing this, so much to the advantage of 
the British, that they could well afibrd a liberal reward for the 
beneficial treachery. The American army was stationed in the 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 341 

Strong- holds of the Higlilands on the river Hudson In this 
arrangement, Arnold solicited for the command of West Point. 
This fort was built after the loss of Forts Montgomery and Clin- 
ton, on that river, for the defence of the same, and was deemed 
the most proper for commanding its navigation. Though 
some, even then, entertained doubts of Arnold's fidelity, yet 
Washington, in the unsuspecting spirit of a soldier, believing it 
to be impossible that honour should be wanting in a breast 
which he knew was the seat of so much valour, cheerfully grant- 
ed the request, and intrusted him with the important post. 
General Arnold, thus invested with command, carried on a 
negotiation with Sir Henry Clinton, by which it was agreed 
that the former should make a disposition of his forces, which 
would enable the latter to surprise West Point, under such cir- 
cumstances, that he would have the garrison so completely in 
his power, that the troops must either lay down their arms, or 
be cut to pieces. The object of this negotiation was the 
strongest post of the Americans, the thoroughfare of communi- 
cation, at that time, between the eastern and middle states, and 
-Nvas the most important depot belonging to the United States. 
The agent employed in this negotiation, on the part of Sir 
Henry Clinton, was Major Andre, adjutant-general of the Bri- 
tish army, a young officer of great hopes. Nature had bestow- 
ed on him an elegant taste for literature and the arts, which, by 
cultivation, he had greatly improved. He possessed amiable 
qualities and great accomplishments. His fidelity to his mas- 
ter, together with his place and character, eminently fitted him 
for his business — but his high ideas of candour, and his abhor- 
rence of duplicity, made him inexpert in practising those arts of 
deception which it required. To favour the necessary commu- 
nications, the Vulture sloop of war had been previously station- 
ed in the Hudson, as near to Arnold's posts as practicable, with- 
out exciting suspicion. Before this, a written correspondence 
between Arnold and Andre, had been for some time carried on, 
under the ficticious names of Gustavus and Anderson. A 
boat was sent at night from the shore to fetch Major Andre. 
On his return, Arnold met him at the beach, without the post<; 



342 inSTORt OF THE 

of either army. Tlieir business was not finished till it was too 
near the dawn of day for Andre to return to the Vulture. Ar- 
nold told him he must be concealed till the next night. For 
that purpose he was conducted within one of the American 
posts, against his previous stipulation and knowledged, and con- 
tinued with Arnold the following day. The boatmen refused 
to carry him back the next day, as the Vulture, from being ex- 
posed to the file of some cannon, had changed her position. 
Andre's return to New-York, by land, was then the only prac- 
ticable mode of escape. To favour this he quitted his uniform, 
which he had hitherto worn under a surtout, for a common coat, 
and was furnished with a horse, and under the name of John 
Anderson, with a passport to go to the White Plains, or lower if 
he thought proper, he being on public business. He advanced 
alone and undisturbed a great part of the way. When he 
thought himself almost out of danger, he was stopped by three 
of the New-York militia, who were scouting between the posts 
of the two armies. Major Andre, instead of producing his pass, 
asked the man who stopped him, "where he belonged to," who 
answered " to below," meaning New-York. He replied, " so 
do I," and declared himself a British officer, and pressed that 
he might not be detained. He soon discovered his mistake. 
His captors proceeded to search him — sundry papers were 
found in his possession. These were secreted in his boots, and 
were in Arnold's handwriting ; they contained exact returns of 
the state of the forces, ordinance and defences at West Point, 
with the artillery orders, critical remarks on the works, Sic. 

Andre ©ffered his captors a purse of gold, and a new valu- 
able watch, if they would let him pass, and permanent provi- 
sion, and future promotion, if they would convey and accom- 
pany him to New-York. They nobly rejected the proffered 
bribe, and delivered him a prisoner to Lieutenant-colonel 
Jameson, the commandant of the scouting parties. The cap- 
tors of Andre were John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac 
^Van Wert. Congress resolved, that each of them should re- 
ceive annually, during life, two hundred dollars Andre, when 
delivered to Colonel Jameson, continued to call himself by the 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 343 

name of Anderson, and asked leave to send a letter to General 
Arnold to acquaint him of Anderson's detention. This was in- 
consideralel}' granted. General Arnold, on the receipt of this 
letter, abandoned every thing, and went on board the Vulture 
sloop of war. Colonel Jameson forwarded to Washington all 
the papers found on Andre, together with a letter, giving an 
account of the affair ; but the express, by taking a different 
route from that of the General, who was returning from a con- 
ference at Hartford, in the state of Connecticut, with Count de 
Rochambeau, missed him. This caused such a delay as gave 
Arnold time to effect his escape. The same packet which de- 
tailed the particulars of Andre's capture, brought a letter from 
him, in which he avowed his name and character, and endea- 
voured to show that he had not come under the description of 
a spy, 

Washington referred the whole case of Major Andre to the 
examination and decision of a board, consisting of fourteen 
general officers. On his examination he voluntarily confessed 
every thing that related to himself, and that he did not come on 
shore under the protection of ^ flag. The board did not ex- 
amine a witness, but founded their report on his own confession. 
In this they stated the following facts; — «' That Major Andre 
came on shore on the night of the twenty-first of September, 
in a private and secret manner, and that he changed his dress 
within the American lines, and under a feigned name, and dis- 
guised habit, passed their works, and was taken in a disguised 
habit, when on his way to New-York ; and when taken several 
papers were found in his possession, which contained intelli- 
gence for the enemy." From these facts they farther reported 
it as their opinion, " That Major Andre ought to be consider- 
ed as a syy, and that agreeably to the laws and usages of na- 
tions, he ought to sufier deaths 

Sir Henry Clinton, General Robertson, and General Arnold 
wrote pressing letters to Washington, to prevent the decision of 
the board from being carried into effect. Arnold, in particular, 
urged that every thing done by Major Andre was done by his 
particular request, and at a time when he was the commanding 



344 HISTORY OF THE 

officer in the department. He contended that he had a right 
to transact all these matters, for which, though wrong, Major 
Andre ought not to suft'er. An interview also took place be- 
tween General Robertson, on the part of the British, and Ge- 
neral Greene on the part of the Americans. 

Every thing was urgeti by the former that ingenuity or hu- 
manity could suggest, for averting the proposed execution. 
Greene made a proposition for delivering up Andre for Arnold, 
but found this could not be acceded to by the British, without 
offending against every principle of policy. Robertson urged 
" that Andre went on shore under the sanction of a flag, and 
that being then in Arnold's power, he was not accountable for 
his subsequent actions which were said to be compulsory. To 
this it was replied, that he was employed in the execution of 
measures very foreign from the objects of flags of truce, and 
such as they were never meant to authorize ; and that Major 
Andre, in the course of his examination, had confessed that it 
was impossible for him to suppose that he came on shore under 
the sanction of a flag. Robertson proposed, that since they 
difi'ered so widely, the opinions •f Knyphausen and Rocham- 
beau might be taken. He ofi'ered, that in case Andre was per- 
mitted to return with him to New-York, any person whatever, 
that might be named, should be set at liberty. All these argu- 
ments and entreaties having failed, Robertson presented a letter 
from Arnold, in which he exculpated Andre, by acknowledging 
himself the author of every part of his conduct, and insisted on 
his coming from the Vulture, under a flag which he had sent 
for that purpose. He declared, that if Andre should be execut- 
ed he should think himself bound to retaliate. He entreated 
Washington, by his own honour, and for that of humanity, not 
to suffer an unjust sentence to touch the life of Andre, but if that 
warning should be disregarded, and Andre sufier, he called 
Heaven and earth to witness, that he alone would be justly 
answerable for the torrents of blood that might be spilt in con- 
sequence." 

Every exertion was made by Sir Henry Clinton, but without 
effect. Andre, though superior to the terrors of death, wished 



STATE OF NEW-YORK, 345 

to die like a soldier. To obtain this favour, he wrote a letter 
to Washington, fraught with sentiments of military dignity. 
From an adherence to the usuages of war, it was not thought 
proper to grant this request. The guard marched him to the 
place of execution. The way was crowded with spectators.— 
Their sensibility was strongly impressed by beholding a youth, 
of an engaging person, mien and aspect, devoted to execution. 
Major Andre walked with firmness, composure and dignity, be- 
tween two officers. Upon seeing the preparations at the fatal 
spot, he asked, with some degree of concern, *' must I die in 
this manner .f"' He was told it was unavoidable. He replied, 
"I am reconciled to my fate, but not to the mode ;" but soon 
subjoined, " it will be hut a mnmpntary pang." He ascended 
the car with composure. He was asked when the fatal moment 
was at hand, if he had any thing to say — he answered nothing, 
but to request, " that you will witness to the world that 1 die 
like a brave man." — The succeeding moment closed the scene. 

This execution was the subject of severe censure. Barbarity, 
cruelty and murder were plentifully charged on the Americans, 
but the impartial, of all natioqs allowed, that it was warranted 
by the usages of war. It cannot be condemned without con- 
demning the maxims of self-preservation, which have uniformly 
guided the practice of hostile nations. The finer feelings of 
Immunity would have been gratified by dispensing with the 
rigid maxims of war, but these feelings must be controlled by a 
regard for the public safety. 

This grand project terminated with no other alternative, in 
respect to the British, than that of their exchanging one of their 
best officers, for the worst man in the American army. Arnold 
was immediately made a brigadier-general in the British ser- 
vice. The failure of the scheme respecting West Point, made 
it necessary for him to dispel the cloud which overshadowed his 
character, by the performance of some signal service for his 
new master. The condition of the Americap army aflbrded 
him a prospect of doing something. He flattered himself, that 
by the allurements of pay and promotion, he should be able to 
raise a numerous force from the distressed American soldiery. 

VOL. III'. 44 



34^ HISTORY OF THE 

He, therefore, took methods for accomplishing this purpose. 
His first pubJic measure was, issuing an address to the inhabi- 
tants of America, dated October fifth, and five days after An- 
dre's execution. In this be endeavoured to justify himself f«r 
deserting their cause. He said, " that when he first engaged 
hi it, he conceived the rights of his country to be in danger, 
and that duty and honour called him to her defence. A re- 
dress of grievances was his only aim. He acquiesced in the 
declaration of independence, although he thought it precipitate. 
But the reasons that then were offered to justify that measure, 
no longer could exist, when Great Britain, with the open arms 
of a parent, ofiered to embrace them as children, and to grant 
the wished for redress. From the refusal of these proposals, 
and the ratification of the French alliance, all his ideas of the 
justice and policy of the war, were totally changed, and from 
that time, he had become a professed loyalist. He acknow- 
ledged, that " in these principles, he had only retained his 
arms and command for an opportunity to surrender them to 
Great Britain." This address was soon followed by another, 
inscribed to the officers and soldiers of the American army. 
He informed them, that he was authorized to raise a corps of 
cavalry and infantry, who were to be on the same footing with 
the other troops in the British service. To allure the private 
men, three guineas were offered to each, besides payment for 
their horses and arms. Rank in the British army was also 
held out to the American officers, who would recruit, and 
bring in a certain number of men. But this address did not 
produce the intended effect. 

That spark, which was kindled at Boston, expanded itself, 
till various nations were involved in its spreading flames. — 
France had been drawn in, in the year 1778, Spain in 1779, 
and the Netherlands this year. From the year 1777, the Bri- 
tish minister at the court of the Netherlands, had made sundry 
representations to their High Mightinesses of the clandestine 
commerce carried on between their subjects and the Americans. 
He particularly stated that the governor of St. Eustatia had 
permitted an illicit commerce with the Americans ; and had, at 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 347 

?)ne time, returned the salute of a vessel carrying their flag. 
The minister, therefore, demanded a formal disavowal ol this 
salute, and the dismissal and recal of the governor. This de- 
mand was answered with a temporising reply. On the twelfth 
of September, 1778, a memorial was presented lo the States 
General from the merchants of Amsterdam, in which they com- 
plained that their commerce was obstructed by the ships of his 
Britannic Majesty. Friendly declarations and unfriendly ac- 
tions followed each other. At length a declaration was pub- 
lished by the King of Great Britain, by which it was announc- 
ed, " that the subjects of the United Provinces were henceforth 
to be considered upon the same footing with other martial 
powers, not privileged by treaty." Throughout the whole of 
this period the Dutch, by means of neutral ports, continued to 
supply the Americans, and the British to intercept their navi- 
gation, but open hostilities were avoided by both. The event 
which occasioned a formal declaration of war, was the capture 
of Henry Laurens. In the deranged state of the American 
finances, Mr. Laurens had been deputed by Congress to solicit 
a loan in the Netherlands, and also to negotiate a treaty. On 
his way thither he was taken, on the third of September, 1780. 
He had thrown his papfeV^' overboard, but great part of them 
were recovered. His papers being delivered to the liritish 
ministry were examined. Among ihem was found one pur- 
porting to be a plan of a treaty of amity and commerce between 
the United States and the Netherlands. This unauthentic pa- 
per, which was in Mr. Laurens' possession, proved the occasion 
of a war. The court of Great Britain was highly offended at 
it. The paper itself, and some others relating to the same sub- 
ject, were delivered to the Stadtholder, who laid them before the 
states of the Netherlands. 

Sir Joseph York, the British minister, presented a memorial 
to the States General, in which he asserted, «' that the papers of 
Mr. Laurens had furnished the discovery of a plot, unexampled 
in the annals of the republic. That it appeared, by these pa- 
pers, that the gentlemen of Amsterdam had been engaged in a 
clandestine correspondence with the American rebels, from the 



34d HISTORY OF tHK 

month of August, 1778;' and that instructions and full poweraf 
had been given by them for the conclusion of a treaty of amity 
with those rebels, who were the subjects of a sovereign, to whom 
the republic was united by the closest engagements." He, 
therefore, in the name of his master, demanded a formal disa- 
vowal of this irregular conduct, and a prompt satisfaction pro- 
portioned to the offence, and an exemplary punishment of the 
pensionary, Van Berkel, and his accomplices, as disturbers of 
the public peace, and violators of the laws of nations. The 
States General disavowed the intended treaty of the city of Am- 
sterdam, and engaged to prosecute the pensioner, but this was 
deemed not satisfactory. Sir Joseph York was ordered to with- 
draw from the Hague, and soon after a manifesto against the 
Dutch was published in London. This was followed by an 
order of council, " that general reprisals be granted against the 
ships, goods, and subjects- of the Netherlands." A war with 
the Netherlands being resolved upon, the storm of British ven- 
geance first burst on the Dutch island of St. Eustatia. It was 
the grand free port of the West Indies. Sir George Rodney 
and General Vaughan, with a large fleet and army, proceeded 
against it, and demanded a surrender, on the third of February, 
1781, which was complied with forthwith, since it was not in a 
deliensible state, and the inhabitants were recommended by the 
governor to the clemency of thp British commanders. 

The wealth accumulated in the store-houses on this small 
island alone was prodigious, being, on a moderate calculation, 
estimated at above three millions pounds sterling, or thirteen 
millions and two hundred thousand dollars. All this property, 
together with what was found on the island, was seized and de- 
clared to be confiscated. This valuable booty was farther in- 
creased by new arrivals. The conquerors, perfidiously, for some 
time kept up Dutch colours, which decoyed American, French, 
and Dutch ships into their hands, to the number of one hun- 
dred and fifty, besides a Dutch frigate, and other armed craft. 

The severity with which the victors proceeded, drew on them 
great censure. 

See Marf hall's Life of Washington, and Eamsey's History of the RevolutioM.- 
ary War, &c. 



•STATE OF NEWrVORK. 34& 



CHAPTER XI. 

"The soldiers of the Pennsylvania line revolt — Also, the soldiers 
of a part oj the New- Jersey — Distresses of the American army 
— General Arnold invades Virginia — Operations in North 
and South Carolina and Georgia — Americans undet Morgan 
make an irruption into the district of IMnrty Six — Colonel 
Tarleton is sent to oppose him-— Is defeated at the Cowpens — 
Cornivallis prepares to invade North Caro'inn — Rtjnforce- 
ments under Leslie arrive at Charleston — Morgan retreats 
with the prisoners taken at the Coivpens — Lord Cornwallis 
pursues him — General Greene retires to A 077/1 Carolina — 
Greene and Morgan form a junction — Cornwallis Jolloivs the 
southern army — Greene withdraws from North Carolina to 
Virginia — Proclamation, of Lord Cornwallis to the inhabi- 
tants — Greene returns into North Carolina — Shrmishts — 
Success of the Americans — Battle of Guilford — The ft-ghf of 
the North Carolina militia occasions the defeat of the Amrri- 
cans — Greene retreats to Reedy Fork, and mnkts a siand — 
Lord Cornivallis marches from Guilford to M'llmtnirton m the 
same state — Greene follows the British army — Cornvmllis 
leaves Wilmington, and marches to Peter sburgh in T irgin'O 
— Greene advances to Camden, in South Carolina — Action 
hetween the Americans, under Greene, and the British, under 
Lord RatvdoUf near Camden — Gieene forced to retrtai — 
Lord Rawdon evacuates Camden, and retires behind the San- 
tee — Success of the Americans — General Greene besieges the 
post of Ninety Six, but is forced to raise it, by Lord Raivdon 
— He retreats before the British, under Lord Raivdon, to the 
river Enoree — Retrograde movements of Jjord Rawdon — 
Greene goes in quest of him — The British abandon Ninety 
Six — Greene, at the Eutaws, defeats the British, under Lord 
Rawdon — Lord Cornwallis arrives in Virginia — 7s opposed 
by the Marquis de La Fayette— The' British cross James 



SoO HISTORY OF THE 

River — The Americans retire — The &cnerals Wayne and 
Steuben join La Fayette— CornwaUis retreats to Williams- 
burgh — The British army takes pas i at Yorlctoivn — Count de 
GrassCy with a French fleet, arrives in the Chesapeake — A 
body of French troops, under the Marquis de St. Simon, de- 
barks, and joins the Ameritans, under Ln Fayette — Perilous, 
situation of the British army, under CornwaUis — A poiverjul 
British fleet attempts, but without success, to afford relief- — 
The American and French armies, under fi ashington and, 
Rochambeau, break up their cantonments on the Hudson, and 
march for Virginia — They arrive at Williomsburgh — York- 
town invested by the combined armies of America and France, 
and by the French fleet — Operations — The British army, un- 
der Lord CornwaUis, surrenders — Arnold, with d body of 
British troops, makes an inroad into Connecticut, and commits 
great depredations. ^ 

Though General Arnold's address to the American soldiery 
produced no effect in detaching them from the service, yet a seri- 
ous revolt happened in the Pennsylvania line, and in some other 
corps. This was occasioned in consequence of the men not 
being paid, clothed, and provided for, as stipulated by Con- 
gress. They had declined the proffers made to them to enter 
the British service, but their distresses at length induced them 
to mutiny. This event, which had been long expected, made 
its first threatening appearance in the Pennsylvania line. The 
soldiers enlisted in that state were for the most part Irish, and 
were inferior to none in discipline and courage. They had 
been but a few months before the most active instruments in 
quelling a mutiny among the Connecticut troops. An am- 
biguity in the terms of their enlistment, furnished a pretext for 
their conduct. A great part of them were enlisted for three 
years, or during the war ; the three years were expired, and 
the men insisted that the choice of staying or going remained 
with them, while the officers contended that the choice was in 
the state. 

The mutiny was excited by the non-commissioned officers and 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 351 

soldiers, ia the night of the first of January, 1781< and soon be- 
came so universal in ihe line of that state, as to defy all opposition. 
The whole, except three regiments, upon a signal for that pur- 
pose, turned out under arms, without their officers, and declar- 
ed for a redress of grievances. The officers in vain endeaoured 
to quell them. Several were wounded, and a captain was kill- 
ed in attempting it. General Wayne presented his pistols, as 
if about to fire on them; they held their bayonets to his breast, 
and said, '• We love and respect you, but if you fire, you are a 
dead man ! We are not going to the enemy — on the contrary, 
if they were now to come out, you should see us fight, under 
your orders, with as much alacrity as ever ; but we will be 
no longer amusrd — we are determined on obtaining what is 
our just due." Deaf to arguments, they, to the number of 
thirteen hundred, moved ofi" in a body from Morristown, and 
proceeded in good order, with their arms and six field- pieces, 
to Princeton. General Wayne forwarded provisions to them. 

Congress sent a committee of their body to them to procure 
an accommodation. These met them at Princeton, and re- 
dressed all their grievances, and dismissed those who wished it. 
By these measures, the revolt was quelled. A general amnesty 
closed the business. 

The spirit of mutiny proved contagious. During the same 
month, about one hundred and sixty of the New-Jersey troops 
followed the example of the Pennsylvania line ; but they did not 
conduct themselves with equal spirit. Major-general Howe, 
with a considerable force, was ordered to reduce them to 
obedience. He marched from Kingwood, about midnight, and 
by the dawn of day surrounded them. They were command- 
ed to lay down their arms, which was complied with, and 
two were unjustly executed. 

These mutinies alarmed the states, but did not produce per- 
manent reliefs to the army. Their wants were only partially 
supplied, and by expedients from one short time to another. 
The most usual was ordering an officer to seize on provision? 
wherever found. This differed from robbery, only in its being 
done by authority, for the service, and in the officers always 



352 HISTORY OF THE 

giving tli€ proprietor a certificate of the quantity. At ftrstj 
some reliance was placed on these certificates to support a future 
demand on the United States, but they soon, in consequence of 
the bad credit of the government, became of little or no value. 
Recourse was so frequently had to coercion, both legislative 
and military, that the people not only lost confidence in pub- 
lic credit, but became impatient, under all exertions, for forcing 
their property from them. That an army should have been 
kept together under such circumstances, so far exceeds credi- 
bility, as to make it necessary to produce some evidence of the 
fact. General James Clinton, in a letter to Washington, dated 
at Albany, the sixteenth of April, 1781, wrote as follows: 
" There is not now. independent of Fort Schuyler, three days' 
provision in the whole department, for the troops, in case of an 
alarm, nor any prospect of procuring any. The recruits of the 
new levies, I cannot receive, because I have nothing to give 
them. The Canadian families, 1 have been obliged to deprive 
of their scanty pittance, contrary to every principle of humani- 
ty. The quarter-master's department is totally useless, the 
public armoury has been shut up for near three weeks, and a 
total suspension of every military operation has ensued." 

Fort Schuyler, on the Mohawk, West Point, on the Hud- 
son, and the other posts on that river, were on the point of 
being abandoned by their starving garrisons. At this period, 
there was little or no circulating medium, either in the form of 
paper or specie, and in the neighbourhood of the army, there 
was a want of provisions. The deficiency of the former occa- 
sioned many inconveniences, and an unequal distribution of the 
burdens of the war ; but the insufficiency of the latter, had well 
nigh dissolved the army. 

This crisis, which had been ardently wished for by the ene- 
my, and dreaded by the Americans, took place in 1781, but 
without realising the hopes of the one, or the fears of the other. 
New resources wei-e opened, and the war was carried on as be- 
fore. A great deal of gold and silver was about this lime in- 
troduced into the United States, by a trade with the French 
and Spanish Islands, in the West Indies, and by the French 



STATE OF NFAV-YORK. 353 

army in Rhode Island. Representations were made to the 
ministers of Ijouis XVI., by Washington, Dr. Frankhn, and 
Colonel John Laurens. The king o( France gave the United 
St:ites a subsidy of six millions of livres, and became their se- 
curity for ten millions more borrowed for their use in the Neth- 
erlands. A regular system of finance was also adopted. All 
matters, relative to the treasury, the supplies of the army, and 
the accounts were put under Robert Morris, who arranged the 
whole with economy. The public engagements were made in 
coin. The introduction of so much gold and silver, together 
with these regulations, extricated Congress from much of their 
embarrassment, and put it in their power to feed, clothe, and 
move the army. * 

About the same time, the continental money ceased to have 
currency. Like an aged man, expiring by the decays of na- 
ture, without a sigh or groan, it fell asleep in the hands of its 
possessors. By the scale of depreciation, the war was carried 
on five 3'ears, for a little more than four millions four hundre(3 
thousand dollars, and two hundred millions of paper dollars 
were made redeemable by five millions of silver ones. Public 
faith was violated, but in the opinion of most men, public good 
was promoted. Nothing can afibrd stronger proof that the re- 
sistance of America to Great Britain was grounded in the 
hearts of the people, than these events. To receive paper bills 
of credit, issued without any funds, and to give property in ex- 
change for them, demonstrated the enthusiasm with which the 
war was begun. 

While the Americans were suffering the complicated calamities 
which introduced the year 1781, their adversaries were carrying 
on an extensive plan of operations. It had often been objected 
to the British commanders, that they had not conducted the 
war in the manner most likely to effect the subjugation of the 
states. Military critics, in particular, found fault with them 
for keeping a large army idle at the city of New- York, and its 
vicinity, which they said, if properly applied, would have been 
sufficient to make successful impressions at one and the same 
time, on several of the states. The British seem to have calcu- 
VOL. III. 45 



354 HISTORY OF THE 

lated the campaign of 1781, with a view to make an experiment 
of the comparative merit of this mode of conducting mihtary 
operations. The war raged in that year, not only in the vicini- 
ty of New-York, but in Georgia, South Carolina, North Caro- 
lina and Virginia. To favour Lord Cornwallis' designs in the 
southern states, General Leslie, with about two thousand men, 
had been detached from New-York to the Chesapeake, in the 
latter end of 1780 ; but subsequent events induced his lordship 
to order him to Charleston. Soon after the departure of Leslie, 
Virginia was again invaded by another party of the ro^al 
troops from New York. These were commanded by General 
Arnold, and consisted of about sixteen hundred men. They 
landed about fifteen miles below Richmond, on James' River, 
on the fifth of January, and marched thence to that town, 
where they destroyed large quantities of tobacco, salt, rum, 
sail-cloth, and other merchandise. Successive excursions were 
made to several other places, in which the army committed 
similar devastations. 

In about two weeks, they proceeded to Portsmouth, and be- 
gan to fortify it. The havoc made by Arnold, and the apprehen- 
sion of a design to fix a post in Virginia, induced Washington 
to detach the Marquis La Fayette, with twelve hundred men to 
that state, and also to urge the French in Rhode Island, to co-. 
operate in attempting to capture Arnold and his party. The 
French commanders closed with the proposal. With this view, 
their fleet, with fifteen hundred additional men on board, sailed 
from Newport for Virginia. D'Estouches, the admiral, previ- 
ous to the sailing of his fleet, dispatched a sixty-four gun ship 
and two frigates, with orders to destroy the British ships in 
the Chesapeake. These took ten vessels, and captured the 
Romulus, a forty-four gun frigate. Arbuthnot, with a British 
fleet sailed from Gardiner's Bay, at the east end of Long Island 
in pursuit of D'Estouches. The former overtook and engaged 
the laiter, ofl'the Capes of Virginia. The British were consi- 
derably superior in guns. The contest between the fleets was 
so nearly equal, that it ended without the loss of a ship on 
either side ; but the British obtained the fruits of victory sc 



STATE OF NEW-VORK. 355 

tar, as to frustrate the scheme of their adversaries. The French 
fleet returned to Rhode Island. Thus was Arnold and his 
party saved. The day before the French fleet reached New- 
port, a convoy arrived in the Chesapeake, from New-York, 
with General Philips, and two thousand men. Philips and 
Arnold soon formed a junction, and carried every thing before 
them. They defeated those bodies of militia that came in their 
way. The whole country was open to their excursions. On 
their embarkation from Portsmouth, a detachment visited Y'oi4i- 
town, but the main body proceeded to Williamsburgh. On the 
twenty-second of April, they reached Chickapowing. A part}' 
went up that river, and destroyed much property. On the 
twenty-fourth, they landed at City Point, and soon after march- 
ed to Petersburgh, on the Appomatox. About a mile from the 
town they were opposed by a small force, commanded by Baron 
De Steuben ; but this was compelled to retreat. At Peters' 
burgh, they destroyed four thousand hogsheads of tobacco, and 
several vessels. Within three days, one party marched to 
Chesterfield court-house, and burned the barracks, and three 
hundred barrels of flour at that place. On the same day, an- 
other party, under Arnold, marched to Osborne's, about four 
miles above Chesterfield, where they look a number of vessels 
loaded with tobacco, flour, cordage, &,c. The quantity of to- 
bacco taken and destroyed, exceeded two thousand hogsheads. 
The royal forces then marched to Manchester, where they de- 
stroyed twelve hundred hogsheads of tobacco ; returning thence, 
they made great destruction at Warwick. They destroyed the 
ships on the stocks and in the river, the ropewalk, warehouses, tan 
houses, with their commodities. On the ninth of May, they 
returned to Petersburgh, having destroyed property to a large 
amount. About this time, General Philips died, and the com- 
mand devolved again on Arnold. 

The successes which, with a few checks, followed the British 
arms, since they had reduced Savannah and Charleston, en- 
couraged them to pursue their object, by advancing from south 
to north. An invasion of North Carolina was therePjie pro- 



35ii HISTORY OF THE 

jected for the business of the winter, which followed General 
Gates' defeat near Camden. 

The army, after its defeat and dispersion, on the sixteenth 
of August, 1780, rendezvoused at Hilkborough. In the latter 
end of the year it advanced to Charlottetown. At this place 
General Greene superceded Gates. Within a few days after, 
Lieutenant-colonel Washing-ton being out on a foraging excur- 
sion, penetrated to the seat of Lieutenant-colonel Rigley, of 
the British militia. This was fortified by a block-house and 
other works, and was defended by upwards of one liundred of 
the inhabitants, who bad submitted to the royal government. 
Lieutenant-colonel Washington advanced with his cavalry, and 
planted the trunk of a pine tree so as to resemble a field-piece. 
A peremptory demand of an immediate surrender was then 
made, which was complied with. 

The whole southern army, at this time, consisted of about 
two thousand men, more than half of whom were militia. The 
regulars had been, for a long time, without pay, and were 
very deficient in clothing. The procuring of provisions was a 
matter of difficulty. Paper money had suflered the same deteri-' 
oration in the southern states that it had in the middle and 
northern. Hard money had not a physical existence. The 
only mode left for supplying the army, was that of impress- 
ment. To seize on the property of the inhabitants, and at the 
same time preserve their affections, was a difficult'business, and 
of delicate execution, but of the utmost moment, as it furnish- 
ed the army with provisions, without impairing the disposition 
of the inhabitants to co-operate with it in recovering the 
country. Such was the situation of the country, that it was 
al»«ost equall}^ dangerous for the army to go forward or stand 
still. In the first case every thing was hazarded ; in the last 
the confidence of the people would be lost, and all prospect of 
being supported by them. The nature of the country, thinly 
inhabited, abounding with swamps, and covered with woods, 
the inconsiderable force of the American army, the number of 
the disaffected, and the want of magazines, inclined General 
Greene to prefer a partisan war. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 357 

With a small army, miserably provided, General Greene took 
the field against a superior British force, which had marched 
in triumph two hundred miles from the sea-coast. Soon after 
he divided his force, and sent General Morgan, with a detach- 
ment, to the western extremity ol South Carolina, and about 
the same time marched with the main body to Hick's Creek, 
on the north side of the Pedee. 

After the general submission of the militia in the preceding 
year, a revolution ensued highly favourable to the interest of 
the United States. The residence of the British army, instead 
of increasing the friends to royal government, diminished their 
numbers, and added strength to the Americans. The appear- 
ance of General Morgan in the district of Ninety Six, under 
these favourable circumstances, induced several persons to re- 
sume their arms, and to act in concert with his troops. 
. When Morgan made his appearance in the district of Ninety 
Six, Lord Cornwallis was far advanced in his preparations for 
the invasion of North Carolina, To leave Morgan in the rear 
might be attended with great detriment. In order, therefore, 
to drive him from this station, Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton was 
directed to proceed against him, with eleven hundred men. 
With these forces Tarleton, on the seventeenth of January, 
1781, engaged Morgan, at a place called the Cowpens. The 
latter drew up his men in two lines, in an open wood. The 
southern militia, with one hundred and ninety from North 
Carolina, were put under the command of Colonel Pickens. 
These formed the first line, and were advanced a few hundred 
yards before the second, with orders to form on the right of the 
second, when forced to retire. The second line consisted of 
infantry and riflemen. Lieutenant-colonel Washington, with 
his cavalry and some mounted militia-men, were drawn up in 
the rear of the whole. On ihe side of the British, the legionary 
infantry and fusileers, though worn down, were ordered to form 
the line. Before this order was executed, the line, though far 
from being complete, was led to the attack by Colonel Tarle- 
ton himself They advanced with a shout, and poured in a 
volley of musketry. Colonel Pickens directed his men to re- 



358 HISTORY OF THE 

serve their fire till the British were within fifty yards. This 
order, though executed, was not sufficient to repel the advan- 
cing foes. Picken's men fell back. The British advanced, 
and engaged the second line, which after an obstinate conflict^ 
was compelled to retreat. In this crisis, Colonel Washington 
made a charge on Captain Ogilvie, who, with forty dragoons, 
was cutting down the militia, and forced them to retreat. Co- 
lonel Howard at the same moment rallied the continentals, and 
charged with fixed bayonets. Nothing could exceed the as- 
tonishment of the British, occasioned by these unexpected 
charges. Their advance fell back on their rear, and commu- 
nicated a panic to the whole. Two hundred and fifty horse, 
which had not been engaged, fled with precipitation. The ar- 
tillery were seized by the Americans, and great confusion en- 
sued among the infantry. While they were in this state t>f dis- 
order, Colonel Howard called to them to lay down their arms. 
Some hundreds complied. Upwards of three hundred of the 
British were killed or wounded, and above five hundred made 
prisoners. Eight hundred muskets, two field-pieces, thirty-five 
baggage wagons, &c. fell into the hands of the victors. 

The defeat of Colonel Tarleton was the first link in a chain 
of causes, which finally drew down ruin, both in South and 
North Carolina, on the royal cause. 

Lord Cornwallis, though preparing to extend his conquests 
northerly, was not inattentive to the security of the royal cause 
in South Carolina. Besides the force at Charleston, he left a 
body of troops under Lord Rawdon. These were principally 
stationed at Camden, from which central situation they might 
easily be drawn to defend the frontiers, or to suppress insurrec- 
tions. To facilitate the intended operations against North 
Carolina, Major Craig, with a detachment of three hundred 
men from Charleston, and a small marine force, took posses- 
sion of Wilmington. The arrival of General Leslie in Charles- 
ton, gave Lord Cornwallis a decided superiority, and enabled 
him to attempt the reduction of North Carolina. Arnold was 
before him in Virginia, while South Carolina, in his rear, was 
considered as subdued. Whilst Lord Cornwallis viewed these 



STATE OF NEW-YORIP. 359 

prospects, he received intelligence that Colonel Tarleton was 
completely defeated. This surprised, but did not djscourage 
him. He hoped by exertions soon to obtain reparation for this 
disastrous event, and even to recover what he had lost. With 
the expectation of retaking the prisoners captured at the Cow- 
pens, and to obliterate the impression made by the issue of the 
late action at that place, his lordship determined on the pursuit 
of General Morgan, who had moved off towards Virginia. The 
movements of the royal army, in consequence of this determina- 
tion, induced General Greene to retreat from Hicks' Creek, lest 
the British should get between him and Morgan's detachment. 
General Greene left the main army under General Huger, and 
rode one hundred and fifty miles through the country to join 
Morgan's detachment, that he might be in front of Lord Corn- 
wallis, and direct the motions of both divisions of his army, so 
as to form a junction between them. 

Immediately after the action at the Cowpens, General Mor- 
gan sent on his prisoners under a guard, and having made ar- 
rangements for their security, retreated with expedition. Never- 
theless, the British gained ground upon him. Greene, on his 
arrival, ordered the prisoners to Charlotteville, and directed 
the troops to Guilford court-house, to which place he also or- 
dered General Huger to proceed with the main army. 

In this retreat the Americans underwent hardships almost 
incredible. Many of them performed their march, without 
shoes, over frozen ground, which so gashed their naked feet, 
that their blood marked every step of their progress. Their 
aiarch lay through a barren country, that scarcely afforded ne- 
cessaries for a kw straggling inhabitants. In this severe sea- 
son they were reduced to the necessity of fording creeks, and 
of remaining wet, without any change of clothes, till the heat 
of their bodies, and occasional fires in the woods, dried their 
tattered rags. To all these hardships they submitted, without 
the loss of a man by desertion. Lord Cornwallis reduced the 
quantity of his own baggage, and the example was followed by 
his officers. Every thing which was not necessary in action, 
or to the existence of his troops, was destroyed. The royal 



360 HISTORY OF THE 

army, encouraged by ihe example of his lordship, submitted to 
every hardship with cheerfulness. The British had urged the 
pursuit with so much rapidity, that they reached Catawba on 
the evening of the same day on which the Americans had cross- 
ed it. Before the next morning a heav} fall of rain made that 
river impassable, by which means Morgan, with his detachment 
and prisoners, made good his retreat. When the flood had 
subsided, Lord Cornwallis, with the British army, crossed the 
river, where it was five hundred yards broad and three feet 
deep, under a constant fire h'om the militia on the opposite side, 
commanded by General Davidson. The infantry and grena- 
dier companies, as soon as they had reached the land, dispers- 
ed the Americans, General Davidson being killed at the first 
onset. The militia throughout the neighbouring settlements 
were dispirited, and but few of them could be persuaded to take 
or keep the field. A small party which collected about ten 
miles from the ford, was attacked and dispersed by Tarleton. 
The passage of the Catawba being efiected, the Americans con- 
tinued to flee, and the British to pursue. The former crossed 
the Yadkin on the second and third days of February, and se- 
cured their boats. Though the British were close in their rear, 
yet the want of boats and the rising of the river, made their cross- 
ing impossible. Thus the Americans in two instances escaped, 
in consequence of the rise of the streams after they had efiected 
their passage, while the enemy were unable to cross them be- 
fore the waters had fallen. Before the British efiected the pas- 
sage of the Yadkin, the two divisions of Greene's army made a 
junction at Guilford court-house. This was on the seventh of 
February. Though the junction had taken place, their com- 
bined numbers were so much inferior to the British, tliat Gene- 
ral Greene deemed it prudent not to risk an action. He, there- 
fore, retired over the Dan, to avoid an engagement till he was 
reinforced*. Lord Cornwallis, knowing the inferiority of the 
Americans, conceived the hopes, by getting between General 
Greene and Virginia, to cut ofl^ his retreat, intercept his sup- 
plies and reinforcements, and oblige him to fight. With this 
view his lordship kept the upper country, where only the river? 



II 

I 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 361 

are fordable. Supposing his adversaries, from the want of a 
sufficient number of boats, could not make good their passage, 
or in case of their attempting it, he expected to be able to over- 
take and force them to action. In this expectation he was de- 
ceived. General Greene eluded his lordship. The British 
urged their pursuit with so much rapidity, that the American 
light troops were on the fourteenth compelled to retire upwards 
of forty miles. General Greene had the day before transported 
his army over the river Dan into Virginia. So rapid was the 
pursuit and so narrow the escape, that the van of the British 
army just arrived as the rear of the American had crossed. 

The continental army being driven out of North Carolina, 
Lord Cornwallis left the Dan, and proceeded to Hillsborough, 
where he erected the royal standard, and published a procla- 
mation inviting all loyal subjects to repair to it. But very fev/ 
of the inhabitants evinced a disposition to range themselves un- 
der it. Notwithstanding the indifference or timidity of the 
loyalists, Lord Cornwallis hoped for aid from the inhabitants 
between Haw and the river Dan. He, therefore, detached 
Colonel Tarleton, with four hundred and fifty men, to give 
countenance to the friends of the royal government in that dis- 
trict. General Greene being informed that many of the inha- 
bitants had joined his lordship, and that they were repairing in 
great numbers to make their submission, determined, at every 
hazard, to re-cross the Dan. This was effected on the twentieth 
and twenty-first of February. Immediately after the return of 
the Americans to North Carolina, some of their light troops, 
commanded by General Pickens and Lieutenant-colonel Lee, 
were detached in pursuit of Tarleton, who had been sent to en- 
courage the insurrection of the royalists. Three hundred and, 
fifty of these, commanded by Colonel Pyles, when on their way 
to join the British, fell in with this American party, and mistak- 
ing them for loyalists, were cut to pieces. Tarleton was re- 
freshing his legion about a mile from this scene of slaughter. 
Upon hearing the alarm, he re-crossed the Haw, and returned 
to Hillsborough. On his return, he cut down several of the 
royalists, as they were advancing to join him, mistaking them 
VOL. Illv 46 



362 HISTORY OF THE 

for the Americans. These events, togetlier with the return ot 
the American army, overturned all the schemes of Lord Corn- 
wallis. The tide of public sentiment was no longer in his fa- 
vour. The advocates for the royal government being discou- 
raged, could not be induced to act. 

Though General Greene had re-crossed the river Dan, his 
plan was not to venture upon an immediate action, but to keep 
alive the spirits of his party, depress that of the loyalists, and har- 
rass the foragers and detachments of the British, till the expected 
reinforcements should arrive. He manceuvered for three weeks, 
constantly avoiding an engagement, when two brigades of 
militia from North Carolina, and one from Virginia, together 
with four hundred regulars, arrived. These gave him a superi- 
ority of numbers, and he determined no longer to decline a 
battle with the enemy. Lord Cornwallis having long sought 
for this, no longer delay took place on either side. The Amer- 
ican army consisted of four thousand four hundred men, of 
whom more than one half were militia; the British of two thou- 
sand four hundred troops. The former was drawn up in three 
lines. The first was composed of North Carolina militia, the 
second of Virginia militia, and the third of continentals under 
General Hnger and Colonel Williams. After a brisk cannon- 
ade in front, the British advanced in three columns. The Hes- 
sians on the right, the guards in the centre, and Colonel Web- 
ster's brigade on the left, and attacked the front line. This 
gave way, when their adversaries were at the distance of 
one hundred and forty yards, and precipitately quitted the 
field. The Virginia militia stood their ground, and kept 
up their fire, till they were ordered to retreat. The continen- 
tals were the last engaged, and maintained the conflict with 
great spirit for an hour and a half. At length the enemy gain- 
ed the day. They broke the second Maryland brigade, turn- 
ed the American left flank, and got in the rear of the Virginia 
brigade. They threatened Greene's right, which would have 
encircled the whole of the continental troops ; a retreat was 
therefore ordered. This was made in good order, and no 
farther than over the Reedy Fork, a distance of three miles. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. J63 

Greene halted there, aud drew up till he had collected most of 
the stragglers, and then retired to Sj)eedwell's Iron Works, ten 
miles distant from Guilford. The Americans lost four pieces 
of cannon, and two ammunition wagons. The victory cost 
the British dear. Their killed and wounded numbered several 
hundreds. Colonel Stuart and three captains fell, and Colonel 
Webster died of his wounds. Generals O'Hara and Howard, 
and Colonel Tarleton were wounded. About three hundred 
continentals, and one hundred of the Virginia militia were 
killed or wounded. Among the former was Major Anderson, 
of the Maryland line ; of the latter. Generals Huger and Ste- 
vens. The American army sustained a great diminution, by 
the number of fugitives, who, instead of rejoining the camp, 
went to their homes. Lord Cornwallis suffered so much, that 
he was in no condition to improve the advantage he had gain- 
ed. The British had only the name, the Americans all the 
good consequences of a victory. General Greene retreated, 
and Lord Cornwallis kept the field ; but, notwithstanding, the 
British interest, in North Carolina, was from that day ruined. 
On the nineteenth of March, Lord Cornwallis left his hospital, 
and seventy-five wounded men, with the loyalists in the vicinity, 
and began a march towards Wilmington, which had the ap- 
pearance of a retreat. This was on the nineteenth of March, 
four days after the battle of Guilford. 

General Greene no sooner received information of this 
movement of Lord Cornwalls, than he put his army in mo- 
tion to follow him. The Americans continued the pursuit of 
Cornwallis till they had arrived at Ramsay's Mills, on Deep 
River, but for good reasons desisted from following any farther. 

Lord Cornwallis halted, and refreshed his army for about 
three weeks at Wilmington, and then marched across the counr 
try to Petersburgh in Virginia. Before it was known that his 
lordship had determined on this movement, the resolution of 
returning to South Carolina was formed by General Greene. 
Had the American army followed his lordship, the southern states 
would have considered themselves as conquered ; for their hopes 
and fears prevailed just as the armies marched north or south. 



364 HISTORY OF THL 

While the two armies were in North Carolina, the whig iu- 
habitants, in some parts of South Carolina, were animated by 
the actions of Sumpter and Marion. These partisans, while 
surrounded with enemies, kept the field. Having mounted 
their followers, their movements were rapid, and their attacks 
unexpected. They intercepted the British convoys, infested 
their outposts, beat up their quarters, and harassed their de- 
tachments with such frequent alarms, that they were obliged ta 
be constantly on their guard. On the western extremity of the 
state, Sumpter was supported by Colonels Neil, Lacey, Hill, 
Win, Bratton and Brandon ; and in the northeastern Marion 
received assistance from Colonels Horry, Baxter and Postel. 
The inhabitants, either as affection or vicinity induced, arrang- 
ed themselves under these ofilcers. 

Before General Greene set out on his march for South Ca- 
rolina, he sent orders to General Pickins to prevent supplies 
from going to the British garrisons at Ninety Six and Au- 
gusta, and also detached Colonel Lee to advance before the 
continental troops. The latter, in eight days, penetrated 
through the country to General Marion's quarters, upon the 
Santee. The main army, in a few days more, completed their 
march from Deep River to Camden. The British had erect- 
ed, in South Carolina, a chain of posts from the capital to the 
extreme districts of the state, which had communications with 
each other. While General Greene was marching against 
Camden, Fort Watson, which lay between Camden and 
Charleston was invested, and taken by Marion and Lee. 

General Greene reached Camden about the twenty-fourth of 
April. Camden, before which the American army encamped, 
is a village, situated on a plain, covered on the south and east 
sides, by the Wateree and a creek. It was defended by Lord 
Ravvdon, with about nine hundred men. The American force 
consisted of about the same number of continentals, and three 
hundred militia. It occupied a position about a mile from the 
town. Lord Rawdon, on the twenty-fifth of April, armed his 
whole force, and attacked the Americans. Victory at first, in- 
clined to the latter, but in the progress of the action, it declared 



STATE OF NEW-"YOMC. 365 

for the former. General Greene was obliged to retreat, but he 
conducted it with so much order, that he carried off" most of 
his wounded and all liis artillery. The British returned to 
Camden, and the Americans encamped about five miles from 
the field of battle. 

On the seventh of May, Lord Rawdon received a reinforce- 
ment of five hundred men. With this increase of strength, he 
'atiempted on the next day to compel General Greene to ano- 
ther action, but found that general disinclined. Having failed 
in this design, he returned to Camden and burned the jail, 
mills, many private houses, and a great deal of his own bag- 
gage. He then evacuated that post, and retired to the south- 
ward of the Santee. The fall of Fort Watson, broke the com- 
munication with Charleston, and the position of the American 
army in a great measure intercepted supplies. The British, in 
South Carolina, now cut off from all communication with Lord 
Cornwallis, would have hazarded Charleston, by keeping large 
detachments in their distant posts; they therefore resolved to 
contract their limits, by retiring within the Santee. While Ge- 
neral Greene lay in the neighbourhood of Camden he hung in 
one day, eight soldiers, who had deserted from his army. This 
had such effect, that afterwards there was no desertion for three 
months. On the day after the evacuation, Camden, the post at 
Orangeburgh, consisting of seventy British militia, and twelve 
regulars, surrendered to General Sumpter. On the next day 
Fort Motte above the fork, on the south side of the Congaree, 
capitulated. 

On the fourteenth of Maj^, the British abandoned their post 
at Nelson's Ferry. On the day following, the garrison of Fort 
Granby, consisting of three hundred and fifty-two men, mostly 
royal militia, surrendered to Lieutenant-colonel Lee. 

General Marion, with a part}' of militia, marched about this 
time to Georgetown, and began regular approaches against it. 
The enemy, on the first night after his men had broken ground, 
left the town, and retreated to Charleston. In the manner 
just related, the British lost six posts, and abandoned all the 
northeastern extremities of South Carolina. Immediately alter 



366 HISTORY OF THE 

the surrender of Fort Granby, Lieutenant-colouei Lee, com- 
menced his march for Augusta, and in four days arrived before 
it. Lee, on his arrival, joined General Pickens, who, with a 
body of militia, had for some time past taken post in its vicini- 
ty. They jointly carried on their approaches against Fort 
Cornwallis, at Augusta, in which Colonel Brown commanded. 
On the fifth day of June, when farther resistance became hope- 
less, the garrison, to the number of three hundred, surrendered 
on terms of capitulation. After the surrender. Lieutenant-co- 
lonel Grierson, of the British militia, was shot by the Americans. 
Individuals, whose passions were inflamed by injuries and exas- 
perated with animosity, were eager to gratify revenge in viola- 
tion of the laws of war. Murders had produced murders. 
Plundering, assassinations and house-burnings had become 
common. Zeal for the royal cause, or independence, were the 
ostensible motives of action ; but in several of both sides, the 
love of plunder, private pique, and a savage disposition, led to 
actions which were disgraceful to human nature. 

"While operations were carrying on against the small posts, 
General Greene proceeded with his army, and laid siege to 
Ninety Six, in which Lieutenant-colonel Cruger, with upwards 
of five hundred men, was posted. On the left of the besiegers 
was a work erected in the form of a star, on the right was a 
strong blockade fort, with two block-houses in it. The town 
was also picketed and surrounded with a ditch and bank. The 
siege was prosecuted with indefatigable industry, from the twen- 
ty-fifth of May to the eighteenth of June, when General Greene 
was forced to raise it. He was compelled to do this, in conse- 
quence of the near approach of Lord Rawdon with two thou- 
sand men. Before he raised the siege, he endeavoured to carry 
the place by assault, but was repulsed. General Greene took 
a position on the other side of the Saluda. Truly distressing 
was the situation of the American army at this time. When 
they were nearly masters of the whole country, they were com- 
pelled to seek safety, by retreating to its utmost extremity. In 
this gloomy situation, General Greene was advised to retire 
with his remaining force to Virginia ; but he nobly declined, 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 367 

and adopted the only expedient now left him, that of avoiding 
an engagement, till the British forces should be divided. 

Lord Rawdon, who was n^ar Ninety Six at the time of the 
assault, pursued the Americans as far as the Knoree River, but 
without being able to overtake them. Desisting from this hope- 
less pursuit, he drew off a part of his force from Ninety Six, and 
fixed a detachment at Congaree. General Greene, on learning 
that the British force was divided, faced about to give them 
battle. Lord Rawdon, alarmed at this unexpected movement, 
abandoned the Congaree in two days after he had reached it, 
and marched to Orangeburgh. General Greene pursued him, 
and offered battle, but his lordship declined. 

The British about the middle of July, withdrew their troops 
from Ninety Six, General Greene, being unable to prevent 
these troops from joining those under Lord Rawdon, and still 
less so to stand before them after combined, retired to the high 
hills of Santee. The evacuation of Camden having been effect- 
ed by striking at the posts below it, the same plan was now at- 
tempted to induce the British to leave Orangeburgh. With 
this view Generals Sumpter and Marion, with their brigades 
and the legionary cavalry, were detached to Monk's Corner 
and Dorchester. They moved down different roads, and com- 
menced separate and successful attacks on convoys and detach- 
ments in the vicinity of Charleston. In this manner was the 
war carried on. While the British kept their forces concen- 
trated, they could not cover the country, and when they divided 
them, the Americans attacked and defeated them in detail. The 
people found that their late conquerors could not protect them. 
The spirit of revolt became general, and the royal interest daily 
declined. 

The British, having evacuated all their posts to the north- 
ward of the Santee and Congaree, and to the westward of the 
Edisto, conceived themselves able to hold all that fertile coun- 
try which is in a measure enclosed by these rivers. They, 
therefore, once more resumed their station near the union of the 
Wateree and Congaree. General Greene now crossed the 
Wateree and Congaree, and assembled bis whole force on the 



368 HISTORY OP THE 

south side of the latter river, in order to act offensively. On 
his approach, the British retired about forty miles nearer 
Charleston, and took post at the Eutaw Springs. General 
Greene advanced with two thousand men, to attack them in 
their encampment at this place. His force was drawn up in 
two lines. As the Americans advanced, they fell in with two 
parties of the British, three or four miles a-head of their main 
army. These, being briskly attacked, soon retired. The 
Americans continued to pursue and fire, till the action became 
general. In the hottest of the action. Colonel O. Williams and 
Lieutenant-colonel Campbell, with a body of continentals, 
charged with trailed arms. Nothing could surpass the intre- 
pidity of both officers and men on this occasion. Lieutenant- 
colonel Campbell, while leading his men on to the charge, re- 
ceived a mortal wound. The British were compelled to give 
way and retire with great precipitation. Upwards ot five hun- 
dred were taken prisoners. On their retreat, they took post in 
a strong brick house and picketted garden. From this ad- 
vantageous position they renewed the action, and compelled 
the Americans to retire, with the loss of numbers of their men 
arid four pieces of cannon. In the evening of the next day, 
Lieutenant-colonel Stuart, who commanded on this occasion, 
left seventy of his wounded men and a thousand stand of arms, 
and moved from the Eutaws towards Charleston. The loss of 
the British, inclusive of prisoners, was about eleven hundred 
men, and that of the Americans about five hundred. 

Soon after this engagement, the Americans retired to their 
former position on the high hills of Santee. In the close of the 
year, General Greene moved down into the lower country, and 
about the same time, the British abandoned their out posts, and 
retired with their whole force to the quarter-house, on Charles- 
ton Neck. The battle of Eutaw may be considered as clos- 
ing the national war in South Carolina. Thus ended the cam- 
paign of 1781, in the latter state. 

It has already been mentioned that Lord Cornwallis, soon 
after the battle of Guilford, marched to Wilmington, in North 
Carolina. When he had completed that march, various plans 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 3G9 

of Operation were presented to his view. Sucli as returning to 
South Carolina and of marching- to Virginia, and joining llie 
ro3'al forces in that state. After mature deliberation, his lord- 
ship came to the determination of adopting the latter. He 
wished to reap new laurels. He flattered himself that Lord 
Rawdon, whom he had left in South Carolina, would be able 
to maintain his ground and preserve the conquests already 
made in that state. On the twenty-fifth of April, his lordship, 
therefore, proceeded on his march from Wilmington towards 
Virginia. To favour the passage of the many rivers, with 
which the country is intersected, two boats were mounted on 
carriages, and taken along with the arniy. He proceeded se- 
veral days without opposition, and almost without intelligence. 
The Americans, first made an attempt at Swift Creek, and af- 
terwards at Fishing Creek, to stop his progress, but without 
efi'ect. The British took the shortest road to Halifax, and on 
their arrival there, defeated several parties of Americans. The 
Roanoke, Meherrin, and Nottaway rivers, were successively 
crossed by the royal army, and with very little opposition. On 
the twentieth of May, his lordship reached Petersburgh, which 
had been fixed upon as the place of rendezvous, between him 
and General Philips. By this combination of the royal forces 
Lord Cornwallis saw himself at the head of a powerful army. 
This junction was scarcely completed, when his lordship receiv- 
ed Lord Rawdon's report of the advantage he had gained over 
General Greene on the twenty-fifth ult. About the same time, 
he was informed that three British regiments had sailed from 
Cork for Charleston. 

These two events eased his mind of all anxiety for South 
Carolina, and inspired him with hopes of a brilliant campaign. 
By the late junction of the royal forces at Petersburgh, and by 
the recent arrival of fifteen hundred men from New- York, Vir- 
ginia became the principal theatre of operations for the remain- 
der of the year. The formidable force, thus collected, called 
for the exertions of the friends of independence. The defensive 
operations, in opposition to it, were principally intrusted to ihe 
Marquis de La Fayette. Early in the year he had been de- 
void. IIP, 47 . 



37^ HISTORY OF THE. 

fached from the main American army by Washington^ oa Sim 
expedition, tiie object of which was a co-operation with tfef 
French fleet, in capturing Arnold. On the failure of this, the 
Marquis marched back as far as the head of the Elk» There 
lie received an order to return to "Virginia, to oppose the British 
forces, wliich had become formidable by the arrival of a consi- 
derable reinforcement under General Philips. He proceeded 
without delay to Richmond, and arrived there the day before 
the British reached Manchester, on the opposite side of James' 
River. Thus was the capital of Virginia, at that time, filled 
with almost all the military stores of the state, saved from im- 
minent danger. So great was the superiority of numbers on 
the side of the British, that the Marquis was soon obliged to 
setire with his little army, consisting of one thousand regularSj^ 
and about two thousand one hundred militia. 

Lord Cornwallis advanced from Petersburgh to James'^ 
River,^ which he crossed at Westown, and thence marching 
through Hanover county, crossed the South Anna or Pamunky 
River. The Marquis followed his motions^ but at a guarded 
distance. Two expeditions were, therefore, undertaken by 
Lord Cornwallis. The one was to Charlotteville, v/ilh the 
view of capturing the governor and assembly of the state ; the 
other to Point of Fork to destroy the stores. Colonel Tarle- 
ton, to whom the first was committed, succeeded so far as to 
disperse the assembly, capture some of its members, and destroy 
a great quantity of stores at and near Charlotteville. The 
other expedition, which was intrusted to Lieutenant-colonel 
Simcoe, was only in part successful, for the Americans had 
previously removed most of their stores. In the course of these 
marches and counter-marches, immense quantities of property 
were destroyed, and sundry small skirmishes took place, — 
The Marquis acted so cautiously on the defensive, and made so 
judicious a choice of posts, and showed so much skill in his 
movements, as to prevent any advantage being taken of his 
weakness. He effected a junction at Racoon Ford with General 
Wa^ne, who was at the head of eight hundred men. While 
this junction was ibrraing, the British got between the American 



arATK OF NtW-VOiiK. 371 

mmy, and its stores, w hicli bad been removed from Rlclvmond 
lo Albemarle, The possession of these was an object wiih 
both armies. La Fayette, by forced marches, got within a few 
uiiles of the British army wlien they were two days' march from 
Albemarle. The British general considered himself sure of 
his adversary, for he knew that the stores were his object ; and 
he conceived it impracticable for the Marquis to get between 
him and the stores; but the latter extricated himself from this 
difficulty by taking a nearer road to Albemarle, and fixed him- 
self between the British army and the American stores. This 
skillful movement frustrated Lord Cornwallis' scheme, and in- 
duced hira to fall back to Richmond. About this time, the 
Marquis de La Fayette was reinforced by the troops under the 
Baron de Steuben, and by militia from the contiguous parts. 
He followed Cornwallis, and had the address lo impress hira 
with an idea that the American army was much more numerous 
than it actually was. His lordship retreated to Williamsburgh. 
The day after, the main body of his army reached that place, 
its rear was attacked by an American corps under Colonel But- 
ler, and sustained considerable loss. 

About the time Lord Cornwallis reached Williamsburgh, he 
received intelligence from New-York, setting forth the danger 
to which the royal army in that city was exposed, from a com- 
bined attack, that was said to be threatened by the French and 
Americans. Sir Henry Clinton, therefore, required a detach- 
2nent from his Lordship, and recommended to him to take a 
healthy station, with the residue of his army, till the danger of 
New-York was dispersed. Lord Cornwallis, having complied 
with this requisition, and deeming his force inadequate to main- 
tain his present position at Williamsburgh, determined to retire to 
Portsmouth. For the execution of this project, it was necessary 
to cross James' River. 

The Marquis de La Fayette, conceiving this to be a favour- 
able opportunity for acting offensively, advanced on the BritisJu 
General Wayne, pushed forward with about eight hundred men 
to harass their rear. But contrary to his expectation, be iomid 
the whole British army drawn up to oppose him. lu this peri- 



372 HISTOKY 01 iilE 

lous situation, be assumed a bold appearance, and engaged 
them before be attempted to retire. Cornwallis, apprehending 
an ambuscade, did not pursue liim, whereby Wayne was ena- 
bled to get off with little loss. 

After Lord Cornwallis had crossed James River, he marched 
for Portsmouth. He had taken steps to send a part of his 
army to New-York. But before they sailed, he received a let- 
ter from Sir Henry Clinton, expressing his preference of Wil- 
liamsburgh to Portsmouth, for the residence of the army, and 
his desire that Old Point Comfort or Hampton Roads should be 
secured as a station for the ships of war. Sir Henry, at the 
same time, allowed him to detain the whole of the forces under 
his command. On examination, Hampton Roads was not ap- 
proved of as a station for the navy. Yorktown and Gloucester 
Points were therefore pitched upon, as preferable and more 
likely to accord with the views of tiir Henry Clinton. Ports- 
mouth was thereupon evacuated, and its garrison transferred to 
Yorktown. Lord Cornwallis retained the whole force under 
his command, and applied himself with industry to fortify his 
new posts, so as to render them tenable by his army, amounting 
to seven thousand men. 

At this period, the officers of the British navy expected that 
their fleet in the West Indies would join them, and that solid 
operations in Virginia would recommence. 

While they where indulging these hopes. Count de Grasse, 

with a French fleet of twenty-eight sail of the line, from the 

West Indies, entered the Chesapeake, and about the same time 

hitelligence arrived, that the American and French armies were 

advancing from the northern states towards Virginia. This 

was about the thirtieth of August. Count de Grasse blocked 

up York River, with three large ships and some frigates, and 

moored the principal part of his fleet in Lyniihaven bay. 

Three thousand two hundred French troops, under the Marquis 

de St. Simon, were debarked, and soon after formed a junction 

with the continentals, under the Marquis de La Fayette, and the 

whole took post at Williamsburgh. An attack on this force 

was intended by Lord Cornwallis, but he relinquished it in con- 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 373 

sequence of intelligence from New-York, that he would be 
reinforced. 

Admiral Greaves, with twenty sail of the line, made an effort 
for the relief of Cornwallis, but without effecting his purpose. 
When he appeared off the Capes of Virginia, Count de Grasse 
went out to meet him, and an indecisive engagement took place. 
This action was on the seventh of September. The object of 
de Grasse, in coming out of the capes, was mainly to cover a 
French fleet of ships of the line, which were experU;d from New- 
port in Rhode Island. In conformity to a pre-( o'certed plan. 
Count de Barras, the commander, had sailed * jr the Chesa- 
peake, about the time de Grasse sailed from the West Indies, for 
the same place. To avoid the British fleet, he had taken a 
circuit by Bermuda. For fear that the British rrught intercept 
him on his approach to the capes, de Grasse came out to be at 
hand for his protection. While de Grasse and Greaves were 
manceuveriBg near the mouth of the Chesapeake, de Barrass 
passed the latter in the night and got within the capes. This 
gave the French fleet a decided superiority. All this time con- 
formably to the well digested plan of the campaign, the Ameri- 
can and French armies were marching though the middle states 
for Yorktown. To understand their proper connexion, the 
great events shortly to be described, it is necessary to go back, 
and trace the remote causes which brought on this grand com- 
bination of fleets and armies, which put a period to the war. 

The fall of Charleston, in May, 1780, and the complete rout 
of the American southern army, in August following, gave a 
serious alarm to the friends of independence. In this low ebb 
of their affairs, a statement was made to Louis XVI., king of 
France, the magnanimous ally of the United States. His most 
Christian Majesty, deeply affected with the sufferings of the Ame- 
ricans, and the state of their affairs, generously gave them six 
millions of livres, and became their surety for ten millions more, 
borrowed for their use in the Netherlands. He also promised 
a naval co-operation, and a conjunct expedition against their 
common foe was projected. 

The American war was now so far involved in the conse- 



374 HISTOHY OF THE 

quences of naval operations, that a superior French fleet seemed 
to be the only kinge on which it was likely soon to take a favoura- 
ble turn. The British army being parcelled in the difl'erent sea- 
port towns of the United States, any division of it, blocked up 
by a French fleet, could not long resist the superior combined 
force which might be brought to operate against it. The Mar- 
quis de Castries, who directed the marine of France, calculated 
the naval force which the British could concentre on the coast 
of the United States, and disposed his own in such a manner as 
ensured him a preponderance. In conformity to these princi- 
ples, and in subserviency to the design of the campaign. Count 
de Grasse sailed in March, 1781, from Brest, with twenty-five 
sail of the line, several thousand land forces, and a large convoy, 
amounting to more than two hundred ships, for the West Indies. 
The British fleet, then in the West Indies, had previously been 
weakened by the departure of a squadron for the protection of 
the ships which were employed in carrying to England the 
booty which had been taken at St. Eustatia. The British Ad- 
mirals, Hood and Drake, were detached to intercept the out- 
ward-bound French fleet, commanded by de Grasse, but a junc- 
tion between his force and eight ships of the line, and one fifty- 
gun ship which were previously in the West Indies was efiected. 
By this union the French had a superiority. M. de Grasse, 
having finished his business in the West Indies, sailed in the 
beginning of August, out with a prodigious convoy. And after 
seeing this out of danger, he directed his course for the Chesa- 
peake, and arrived there on the thirteenth of the same month, 
live days before his arrival, the French fleet at Newport in Rhode 
Island, sailed for the same place. These fleets, notwithstand- 
ing their original distance from the scene of action, and from 
each other, coincided in their operations in a remarkable man- 
ner. They all tended to one object, and at one, and the same 
time, and that object was neither known nor suspected by the 
British till the season for counter-action had elapsed. This 
coincidence of circumstances extended to the marches of the 
American and French land-forces. The plan of operations 
had been so well digested, and so faithfully execyted by the dif- 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 375 

fereiit commanders, that Washington and Rochambeau had 
passed the British head-quarters in New- York, and were con- 
siderably advanced in their way to Yorktown, before Count de 
Grasse had reached the American coast, This was effected in 
the foliowittg manner : — Monsieur de Barras, appointed to the 
command of the French squadron at Newport, arrived at Bos- 
ton with dispatches for Count de Rochambeau. An interview 
soon after took place at Weathersfield in Connecticut, between 
Washington and the generals Knox and du Portail, on the part 
of the Americans, and Count de Rochambeau and the Chevalier 
Chastelleux, on the part of the French. At this interview an 
eventual plan of the whole campaign was fixed. This was to 
lay siege to New-York, in concert with a French fleet,. "which 
was to arrive on the coast in the month of August. It was 
agreed that the French troops should march towards the Hud- 
son. Washington requested the governors of New Hampshire, 
Massachusetts, -Connecticut and New-Jersey, to fill up their 
battalions, and to have six thousand two hundred militia, being 
their quotas, within a week of the time they might be called for. 
Conformable to these outlines of the campaign, the French 
troops marched from Rhode Island in June, and in July joined 
the American army. About the time this junction took place, 
Washington marched his army from its winter emcampment 
near Peekskill, to the vicinity of Kingsbridge. General Lin- 
coln descended the Hudson, with a detachment in boats, and 
took possession of the ground where Fort Independence had 
formerly stood. An attack was made upon him, but was soon 
discontinued. The British, about this time concentrated near- 
ly their whole force on Manhattan Island. Washington hoped 
to be able to commence operations against the city of New- 
York, about the middle or latter end of July. Flat bottomed 
boats, sufficient to transport five thousand men, were built near 
Albany, and brought down the Hudson to the neighbourhood 
of the American army before New- York. Ovens were erected 
in New-Jersey, opposite to Staten Island, for the use of the 
French troops. Every movement was made which was intro- 
ductory to the commencement of the siege. It was not a little 



376 HISTORY OP THE 

mortifying to Washington to find himself, on the second day of 
August, to be only a few hundred stronger than he was on the 
day his army moved from their winter-quarters. To have fixed 
on a plan of operations with a foreign officer, at the head of a 
respectable force, in confident expectation of reinforcements 
sufficiently large to commence efiective operations against the 
common enemy, and at the same time, to have engagements in 
behalf of the states, violated, and in a manner derogatory to his 
honor, was enough to have excited indignation in any mind, 
less calm than that of Washington. He bore this trial with his 
usual magnanimity, and contented himself with repeating his 
requisitions to the states, and at the same time, urged them to 
fulfil the engagements entered into on their account with Count 
de Rochambeau. 

The tardiness of the states, which at other times had brought 
them near the brink of ruin, was now the accidental cause of 
real service. Had they sent forward their recruits for the army 
and their quotas of militia as was expected, the siege of New- 
York would have commenced the latter end of July, or the 
early part of August. While the season was wasting away in 
expectation of these reinforcements. Lord Cornwallis, as haS 
been mentioned, fixed himself near tiie Capes of Virginia. His 
situation there, the arrival of a reinforcement of three thousand 
Germans from Europe to New-York, the superior strength of 
that garrison, the failure of the states In filling up their batta- 
lions, and embodying their militia, and especially, recent intel- 
ligence from Count de Grasse, that his destination was fixed to 
the Chesapeake, concurred, about the middle of August, to 
make a total change of the plan of the campaign. 

The appearance of an intention to attack New-York, was 
nevertheless, kept up. While this deception was played off, 
the American and French armies crossed the Hudson, and pas- 
sed by the way of Philadelphia, to Yorktown. An attempt to 
reduce the British forces in Virginia, promised success with 
more expedition, and to secure an object of nearly equal im- 
portance as the reduction of New-York. While the attack of 
New- York was in serious contemplation, a letter from Washing , 



STATE OF NEW-YORK* ^'^^ 

ton, detailing the particulars of the intended operations of the 
campaign, intercepted, fell into the hands of Sir Henry Clinton. 
After the plan was changed, the royal commander was so much 
under the impression of the intelligence, contained in the inter- 
cepted letter, that he believed every movement towards Virginia, 
to be a feint calculated to draw off his attention from the defence 
of New-York. Under the influence of this opinion, he bent 
his whole force to strengthen that post, and suflered the Ameri- 
can and French armies to pass him without molestation. 

On the twenty-fourth of August, the American and French 
armies commenced their march for Virginia, from the vicinity 
of New-York. Washington and Ptochambeau, on reaching 
Chester, received news of the arrival of the I'rench fleet under 
Count de Grasse. The French troops, in their march from 
Newport in Rhode Island to Yorktown in Virginia, a distance 
of five hundred miles, behaved with the greatest regularity and 
propriety. Washington and Rochambeau reached Williaras- 
burgh on the fourteenth of September. They, with the 
generals Chastelleux, Du Portail and Knox, visited Count de 
Grasse on board the Ville de Paris, where they agreed on a 
plan of operations. 

The allied forces of the United States and France, proceeded 
on their way to Yorktown, partly by land and partly down the 
Chesapeake. The whole, together with a body of Virginia 
militia, under General Nelson, amounting to twelve thousand 
men, rendezvoused at Williamsburgh, on the twenty-fifth of 
September, and on the thirtieth, moved down to lay siege to 
Yorktown. The French fleet, under Count de Grasse, at the 
same time, moved to the mouth of York River, and took a posi- 
tion which prevented Lord Cowiwallis, from either retreating 
or receiving succor. The combined armies of the United 
States and France, halted in the evening about two miles from 
Yorktown. About this time. Lord Cornwallis received a letter 
from Sir Henry Clinton, announcing the arrival of Admiral 
Digby, \yith three ships of the line from Europe, and his deter- 
mination to embark five thousand men in a fleet, which would 
probably sail on the fifth of October. That this fleet consisted 

VTOL. III. 48 



378 lirSTORY OF THE 

of twenty-tlii'ee sail of the line. On the night of the receipt of 
this intelligence, Lord Cornwallis quitted his outward position, 
and retired to one more inward. 

The works erected for the security of Yorktown on the right, 
were redoubts and batteries, with a line of stockades in the rear. 
A marshy ravine lay in front of the right, over which was placed 
a large redoubt. The morass extended along the centre, which 
was defended by a line of stockades and by batteries ; on the 
left of the center was a horn-work with a ditch, a row of fraize, 
and an abbatis. Two redoubts were advanced before the left. 
The American and French armies advanced, and took possession 
of the ground from which the British had retired. About this 
time, the legionary cavalry and mounted infantry passed over the 
river to Gloucester; General De Choisy with his corps invested 
the British post on that side so fully as to cut off all communi- 
cation between it and the country. In the mean time the royal 
army strengthened their works, and kept their artillery con- 
stantly employed in impeding the operations of the combined 
army. The Americans and French, on the ninth and tenth of 
October, opened their batteries, and kept up a heavy fire from 
their cannon, mortars and howitzers. The shells of the be- 
siegers reached the ships in the harbour, and the Charon, of 
forty-four guns, and a transport ship were burned. On the tenth, 
a messenger arrived with a dispatch from Sir Henry Clinton, 
dated on the thirtieth ult., which stated various circumstances 
tending to lessen the probability of relief being obtained from 
"Ti^ew-York. Lord Cornwallis was at this juncture advised to 
evacuate Yorktown, and, after passing over to Gloucester, to 
force his way into the country. . On the eleventh of October, the 
besiegers commenced their second parallel two hundred yards 
from the works of the besieged. Two redoubts, which were ad- 
vanced on the left of the British, greatly impeded the progress 
of the allied armies; it was therefore proposed to carry them by 
storm. The reduction of the one was committed to the French, 
and that of the other to the Americans, and both marched to 
the assault with unloaded arms. The Americans having passed 
the abbatis and palisades, attacked on all sides and carried 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 379 

the redoubt, with the loss of eight men killed and twenty-eight 
wounded. The latter were led by Colonel Alexander Ha- 
milton. The French were equally successful on their part: 
they carried the redoubt assigned to them with rapidity. The 
troops in both were made prisoners. The reduction of these 
redoubts facilitated the operations of the besiegers. The Bri- 
tish, to the number of four hundred men, headed by Lieutenant- 
colonel Abercrombie, made a sortie on the sixteenth, and spiked 
eleven cannon, but this sortie produced no essential advantage. 
By this time the batteries of the allies were covered with nearly 
one hundred pieces of cannon, and the works of the besieged 
were soon so damaged that they could scarcely show a single 
gun. Lord Cornwallis had now no hope left, but from ofiering 
terms of capitulation oi- attempting an escape ; — he determined 
on the latter. Boats were prepared to receive the troops in the 
night, and to transport them to Gloucester-Point. After one 
whole embarkation had crossed, a violent storm of wind and 
rain dispersed the boats employed on this business, and frus- 
trated the scheme. Orders were sent to those who had passed 
the river to return to lorktown. With the failure of this scheme 
the last hope of the British army expired. Longer resistance was 
xmavailing ; Lord Cornwallis, therefore, wrote a letter to Wash- 
ington, requesting a suspension of arms for twenty-four hours, 
and that commissioners might be appointed to arrange terms of 
capitulation. 

The posts of York and Gloucester were surrendered on the 
nineteenth of October. The troops were to be prisoners of war to 
America, and the naval forces to France. The honqr of march- 
ing out with colours flying, which had been refused to General 
Lincoln on his giving up Charleston, was now refused to Corn- 
wallis ; and General Lincoln was appointed to receive the sub- 
mission of the royal army, in the way his own had been con- 
ducted about eighteen months before. 

The French troops employed in this siege were seven thou- 
sand men. and the Americans, five thousand five hundred con- 
tinentals and four thousand militia. On the part of the combined 
army, about three hundred were killed or wounded. On the part 



380 HISTORY OF THE 

of the British, about five bandred and seventy were taken in the 
redoubts which had been stormed. The troops of every kind 
that surrendered prisoners of war exceeded seven thousand men ; 
but so great was the number of the sick and wounded, thai there 
\vere only three thousand eight hundred capable of bearing 
arms. Brigadiers General Du Portail and Knox were both pro- 
moted to the rank of Major-generals on account of their services. 
A British fleet and an army of seven thousand men, destined 
for the relief of Lord Cornwallis, arrived off the Chesapeake on 
the twenty-fourth of October ; but, on receiving advice of his 
lordship's surrender, they returned to New-York. The loss of 
his army may be considered as closing the war in America. 

The troops under Lord Cornwallis had spread considerable 
waste over the face of the country for four hundred miles on the 
sea coast, and for two hundred miles to the westward. Their 
marches from Charleston to Camden, from Camden to the river 
Dan, from the Dan through North Carolina to Wilmington, 
from Wilmington to Petersburgh, and from Petersburgh through 
many parts of Virginia, till they finally settled in Yorktown, 
made a rout of more than eleven hundred miles. Every place 
through which they passed experienced the effects of their rapa- 
city. Their numbers, added to the unwarlike disposition of 
many of the inhabitants, enabled them to go whithersoever they 
pleased. The reduction of such an army occasioned transports 
of joy to the people throughout the United States 

While the combined armies of America and France were 
marching to the siege of Yorktown, an excursion was made 
from New-.York by a body of British troops, which was attended 
with no small loss to the Americans. General Arnold, who had 
lately returned from Virginia, was appointed to conduct an ex- 
pedition, the object of which was the town of New-London, in 
the state of Connecticut. The troops employed therein were 
landed on the sixth of September, in two detachments on each 
side of the harbour. The one was commanded by Lieutenant- 
colonel Eyre, and the other by Arnold. The latter met with 
little opposition. Fort Trumbull and a redoubt which was in- 
tended to cover the harbour, not being tenable, were evacuated. 



STATE OF NEW-YORI& 381 

and the men crossed the river to Fort Grisvvold, on Groton Hill. 
This was attacked by Lieutenant- colonel Eyre. The garrison 
defended themselves with resolution ; but, after a conflict of forty 
minutes, the fort was carried by the assailants. The Americans 
had not more than six or seven men killed when the British 
carried their lines; but a severe execution took place after- 
wards, though resistance had ceased. Colonel Ledyard, the 
commandant, was killed after he had presented his sword. Be- 
tween thirty and forty were killed or wounded, and about forty 
were carried off prisoners. On the side of the British, forty- 
eight were killed, and one hundred and fort\-five wounded. 
About fifteen vessels, loaded with the effects of the inhabitants, 
retreated up the river, and four others remained in the harbour 
unhurt, but all excepting these were burned by the communi- 
cation of fire from the burning stores. Sixty dwelling houses 
and eighty-four stores were reduced to ashes, and the loss which 
the Americans sustained by the destruction of naval stores, of 
provisions and merchandise was immense. General Arnold, 
having completed the object of his expedition, returned in eight 
days to New-York. 

The year 1781 terminated in all parts of the United States in 
favour of the Americans. It began with imbecility in the Ca- 
rolinas, devastation in Virginia, and mutiny in New-Jersey ; 
nevertheless, in its close the British were confined to their strong 
holds in or near New- York, Charleston and Savannah, and 
their whole army in Virginia was captured. The whole cam- 
paign passed away on their part without one valuable conquest, 
or the acquisition of any post or place from which higher pur- 
poses were answered than destroying public stores, or distressing 
individuals. The highly important services rendered by the 
French to the Americans led, in a great measure, to results so 
favourable. 

The Cherokee Indians having forgot the consequences of 
provoking the Americans to invade their setilements in the year 
1776, made an incursion into Ninety Six District, in South 
Carolina, in 1781, massacred some families, and burned several 
bouses. General Pickens collected a party of the militia, and 



382 HISTORY OF THE 

penetrated into their country. This he accomplished in four- 
teen days, at the head of four hundred horsemen. In that short 
space, he burned thirteen towns and villages, and killed up- 
wards of forty Indians, and took a number of prisoners, without 
losing a man. None of the expeditions against the Cherokees 
had been so rapid and decisive as this one. On this occasion, a 
new and successful mode of fighting them was introduced. 
The Americans rushed forward on horseback, and charged the 
Cherokees with drawn swords. The vanquished Cherokees 
again sued for peace in the most submissive terms, and obtained 
it, but not till they had promised that instead of listening to the 
advice of the royalists, instigating them to war, they would de- 
liver up all who should visit them on that errand. 

See Ramsey's History of the Revolutionary War, &^. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 388 



CHAPTER XII. 

After the capture of Cornwallis, Washington returns to the vi- 
cinity oj New' > ork — General Wayne is sent by Generdl 
Greene to Georgia — General Wayne defeats Colonel Brown 
near Savannah. — Slavery a source of weakness — The French 
take Demarara, he. — Admiral Rodney dejeats Count de 
Grasse, in a naval action — John Adams prevails on the govern- 
ment of the Netherlands to acknowledge the Indtptndence of 
the United States — He negociates a loan, &c. — The Parlia- 
ment of Great Britain recommend a discontinuance of offensive 
operations in the United States — A new Ministry formfd in 
Great Britain — Sir Guy Carleton, the General-in- chief of 
the British armies in America, propose to Congress to treat of 
Peaces— Congress decline to treat without it be in conjunction 
with France — John Adams, John Jay, Dr. Franklin and 
Henry Laurens agree with the Ministers of Great Britain on 
preliminaries of peace — Treatment of American prisoners — 
Calamities of (he war — Baneful effects of Committees of pub- 
lic safety — Discharge of the American army — One of the of- 
ficers publishes to the troops, a seditious address — Washington 
convenes the officers and counteracts the intended effects of the 
address — Some of the troops in Pennsylvania mutiny, and 
surround the State-house and the Hall oJ Congress — Wash- 
ington issues his farewell address to the army — The City of 
New- York evacuated by the British — Washington, with a nu-' 
merous suite makes his triumphal entry into the City of New- 
Ttork — Washington takes leave of his officers, and leavts New- 
York for Mount Vernon, his residence— On his way he stops 
at Annapolis, and resigns to Congress his commission. 

After the taking of Lord Cornvvallis, Washington, with 
the greatest part of his army, returned to the neighbourhood of 
New-York. He was in no condition to attempt the reduction 



384 HISTORY OF TilE rfL 

of the post at that city, and the royal army bad good reasons 
for not urging hostilities withunt their lines. An obstruction of 
the communication between the city and countr)', some indeci- 
sive skirmishes and predatory excursions were the principal evi- 
dences ot an existing state of the war. This, in a great mea- 
sure, was the case in South Carolina and Georgia. From De- 
cember, 1781, General Greene had possession of all the former 
stiste, Charleston and the vicinity excepted. The British some- 
times sallied out of their lines, for the acquisition of property 
and provisions, but never for the purpose of conquest. In op- 
posing one of these in August, 1782, near Combahee, Lieuten- 
ant-colonel John Laurens was mortally wounded. 

At the commencement of 1782, the British had a more exten- 
sive tange in Georgia, than in any other of the United States. 
From the unsuccessful issue of the assault on Savannah, in 1779, 
that state had eminently suffered the desolations of war. Poli- 
tical hatred raged to such a degree, that the blood of the citi- 
zens was daily shed by the hands of each other, contending un- 
der the names of whigs and tories. Some of the former kept 
together in the western settlements, and exercised the powers of 
government. The whole extent between these and Savan- 
nah, was subject to the alternate ravages of these violent parties. 
After the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, General Greene, being 
reinforced by the Pennsylvania line, was enabled to detach Ge- 
neral Wayne, with a part of the southern army, to Georgia. — 
General Clarke, who commanded in Savannah, on hearing of 
their advance, sent orders to the officers in the outposts, to burn 
as far as they could, all the provisions in the country, and then 
to retire within the lines, at the capital. The country being 
evacuated by the British, the governor with his council, re- 
turned from Augusta to Ebenezer. 

Colonel Brown, with a considerable force, marched out of 
Savannah with the apparent intention of attacking the Ameri- 
cans. General Wayne, by a skilful movement, gained his rear, 
attacked him about midnight, and routed his whole party.— 
Some Creek Indians, headed by their chiefs, made a furious 
attack on Wayne's infantry, in the night. For a few minutes. 



# STATE OF NEW-YORK. 38,5 

they possessed themselves of his field- pieces, but they were re- 
covered. In the mean time, Colonel White, with a party of 
cavalry came up and pressed hard upon them. Both sides en- 
gaged in close quarters. The Creeks displayed uncommon 
bravery, but were at length routed. Shortly after this aflair, a 
period was put to the calamities of war in that state. In three 
months after the capture of Lord Cornwallis was known is 
Great Britain, the parliament resolved to abandon all offen- 
sive operations in America. In consequence thereof, every 
idea of conquest being given up, arrangements were made 
about the middle of July, for withdrawing the royal forces from 
Georgia, and South Carolina. In about five months after, the 
British left Georgia, they withdrew their force from South Ca- 
rolina. 

South Carolina and Georgia lost upwards of twenty-four 
thousand slaves. These retired with the enemy who emanci- 
pated them. Slavery is a source of weakness to states. In the 
revolution, the southern states were unable to cope with the 
enemy. The population consisted of two classes, the free ajid 
the bond. The latter was the most numerous. It had nothing 
to lose, but much to gain. In the contest between the United 
States and Great Britain, the blacks were passive spectators. — 
It was not their interest to take part in the defence of a coun- 
try which enslaved them, and in which there was nothing that 
they could call their own. The enemy would have emancipat- 
ed all of them that would hav,e taken up arms, had not that 
enemy had many slaves in the West India Islands. 

The northern and middle states, in which there were only a 
few slaves, had from time to time to send troops to the south. 
These troops kept alive the contest, straitened the enemy's 
quarters, and at length compelled him to abandon those states. 
It was otherwise in the northern and middle states. There the 
white population was considerable. This population had an 
interest in the soil ; it had every thing at stake. That interest- 
led the people to defend the soil. The enemy's army, although 
more than three times as numerous in these states, could never 
make any conquests. The enemy knew that the northern and 
VOL. 111. 49 



« 
386 HISTORY OF THE 

middle states were the soul of the revolution. They, therefore, 
exerted themselves to conquer those states, and it was not be- 
fore they completely failed, that they made attempts to conquer 
the southern states. The forces employed for this purpose, did 
not surpass the garrison ordinarily kept at New- York; but 
with these they took Charleston, Savannah, and other places, 
and overrun Georgia, the Carolinas, and most of Virginia. — • 
They marched almost where they pleased, and with little oppo- 
sition, except from the continental troops. Atter the battle of 
Camden, most of the inhabitants submitted or declined to act. 
At Camden, the militia left the field without scarcely opposing 
the enemy. The hardy veterans of the north were thus borne 
down by an overwhelming force. At Guilford, Greene and his 
continentals were forsaken by most of the militia. Those from 
North Carolina fled when the enemy were at the distance of 
one hundred and forty yards. Every thing would have been 
lost, had it not been for the bravery of the continentals ; and 
yet in the battle of Guilford Lord Cornwallis had only two 
thousand four hundred men. In New-England, New- York, 
New-Jersey and Pennsylvania, the enemy could not have 
maintained himself a week with such a force. Lord Cornwal- 
lis traversed above one thousand miles of the southern states, 
with a handful of men. In the northern states, General Bur- 
goyne, with ten thousand, could not penetrate from the head of 
Lake Champlain to Albany, a distance of only seventy miles. 
The forces of Lord Cornwallis were never considerable, till his 
junction with the troops of General Philips, near Richmond, 
in Virginia, and then they did not much, if any, exceed eight 
thousand men. This army surrendered to the northern troops 
and the French. After this event, new troops were sent to the 
south. These soon compelled the enemy to relinquish every 
hope of conquest, and ultimately to evacuate all their posts in 
the south, and retire to the city of New-York, whicU was 
their head quarters. 

Though in the year 1782, the United States afforded few 
great events, the reverse was the case with the other powers in- 
volved ill the consequences of the American war. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 381 

Minorca, after a tedious siege, surrendered to the Spaniards, 
on the fifth of February, 1782. About the same time, the set- 
tlements of Demerara and Essequibo, which in the preceding 
year had been taken by the British, were taken by the French 
under the Marquis de Bouille. The French also reduced St. 
Eustatia and St. Kitls. The islands of Nevis and Montserrat 
followed the fortune of St. Kitts. The marine strength of 
France and Spain had never been so powerful before in the New 
World. Their combined navies in the West Indies amounted to 
sixty ships of the Hne, besides frigates and other armed vessels. 
With these they entertained hopes of wresting from the British 
a great part of their West India Islands. 

In the mean time, the British prepared a powerful fleet for the 
protection of their possessions in that quarter. This was com- 
manded by Admiral Rodney, and amounted, after a junction 
with Sir Samuel Hood's squadron and the arrival of three ships 
from Great Britain, to thirty sail of the line. 

It was the intention of Count de Grasse, who commanded the 
French fleet at Martinique, amounting to thirty-four sail of the 
line, to proceed to Hispaniola, or Hayti, and join the Spanish 
fleet of sixteen sail of the line, under Don Solano, and then to 
attempt the reduction of Jamaica. This was in the early part 
of April. 

The British admiral wished to prevent this junction, or at 
least to force an engagement before it was effected. Admiral 
Rodney came up with Count de Grasse soon after he had set 
out to join the Spanish fleet at Hispaniola. Partial engagements 
took place on the three first days after they came near each 
other. In these, two of the French ships were so much da- 
maged that they were obliged to quit the fleet. On the fifteenth 
a general action took place ; this was commenced at seven in 
the morning, and continued till past six in the evening. There 
was no apparent superiority on either side till between twelve 
and on© o'cloclc, when Rodney broke the French line of battle, 
and penetrated through it. The land forces destined for the 
expedition against Jamaica, amounting to five thousand five 
hundred men, were distributed on board the French fleet. Their 



388 HISTORY OF THE 

ships were therefore so crowded, that the slaughter was pro- 
digious. The battle was fought on both sides with equal spirit, 
but with an unequal issue, owing to the superiority of the Bri- 
tish. The fleet of the latter consisted of thirty-six sail of the 
line, besides frigates ; that of the former of thirty-iwo, exclu- 
sive of frigates. The French lost in this action eight sail of 
the line. This was truly an unfortunate day to the gallant 
Count de Grasse. His behaviour throughout the whole action 
was intrepid, and his resistance continued till he and two more 
were the only men left standing upon the upper deck. The 
ships of the defeated squadron fled in a variety of directions. 
Twenty-three or twenty-four *iil made their way to Cape 
Francois. It was fortunate for the Americans that this success 
of the British was posterior to the?r loss in Virginia. As the 
catastrophe of Yorktown closed the national war in the United 
States, so the defeat of the French fleet in a great measure put 
a period to hostihties in the West Indies. 

The capture of the British army in Virginia, the defeat of 
the French fleet, and the destruction of the Spanish floating 
batteries before Gibraltar, inculcated on Great-Britain, France, 
and Spain, the policy of sheathing the sword, and stopping the 
effusion of human blood. Each nation found on a review of 
past events, that their losses were great, and their gains very 
little or nothing. By urging the American war, Great Britain 
had increased her national debt four hundred and fifty millions 
of dollars, and wasted the lives of two hundred thousand men. 
To add to her mortification she had brought all this on herself 
by pursuing an object, the attainment of which seemed to be 
daily less probable. While Great Britain, France, and Spain, 
were brought to think fti^vourably of peace, the United States 
had the consolation of a public acknowledgment of their inde- 
pendence by a second power in Europe. This was effected by 
John Adams, Esq. who was afterwards raised to the exalted 
Station of President of the United States. No individual in the 
United States ever rendered more important services in the ca- 
binet and councils of the nation than this distinguished person, 
and no one has ever be«n more unjustly calumniated, and this 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 389 

by a portion of his countrymen. In the early part of the year 
1781, Mr. Adams had been commissioned to be minister pleni- 
potentiary of Congress to the Netherlands, and was also em- 
powered to aegotiate a loan of money. On the nineteenth of 
April, 1781, very soon after his arrival in that country, he pre- 
sented to the government a memorial, in which he informed it, 
that the United States had thougiit fit to send him a commission, 
with full power and instructions to confer with the government 
of the Netherlands concerning a treaty of amity and commerce, 
and that they had appointed him to be their minister to reside 
there. 

On the twenty-second day of April, 1782, it being about a 
year after the presentation of this memorial, it was resolved, 
" That the said Mr. Adams should be acknowledged in quality 
of minister plenipotentiary." Before this was obtained, much 
pains had been taken, and much ingenuity bad been exerted, to 
convince the rulers of the Netherlands that they had an interest 
in connecting themselves with the United States. 

Mr. Adams, having gained this point, proceeded on the ne- 
gotiation of a treaty of amity and commerce between the two 
countries. This was speedily concluded to the satisfaction of 
both parties. The same success wliich attended Mr. Adams in 
these negotiations, continued to follow him in obtaining a loan 
of money for his almost exhausted country. 

Mr. Jay (who was afterwards successively elevated to the 
rank of chief justice of the United States, and governor of the 
state of New-York, and who has suffered equally with Mr. Adams 
from the calumny of a portion of his countrymen) had for 
nearly three years past exerted equal abilities and equal industry 
with Mr. Adams, in endeavouring to negotiate a treaty between 
the United States and Spain ; but his laudable exertions were 
not crowned with equal success. JVIr. Jay had been instructed 
by Congress, to contend for the right of the United States to 
the free navigation of the Mississippi. But in February, 1781, 
when Lord Cornwallis was making rapid progress in overrun- 
ning the southern states, Congress, on the recommendation 
of Virginia, directed him to recede from this part of his in- 



390 HISTORY OF THE 

striictions, so far as they insisted on the free navigation of the 
Mississippi, below latitude thirty-one degrees, and on a free 
port or ports below the same. These propositions were made 
to the ministers of Spain, but not accepted. 

On the twelfth day of December, 1781, it was moved in the 
house of commons, that a resolution should be adopted declar- 
ing it to be their opinion, " That all further attempts to reduce 
the United States by force, would be ineffectual, and injurious 
to the interests of Great Britain ;" but no resolution disapprov- 
ing its further prosecution, could yet obtain the assent of a 
majority of the members. On the twenty-second day of Feb- 
ruary, 1782, it was again moved, ** That an humble address be 
presented to his majesty, that he will be pleased to give direc- 
tions to his ministers, not to pursue any longer the impracticable 
object of reducing his majesty's revolted colonies by force, to 
their allegiance, by war, on the continent of America." This 
was lost by a single vote. 

General Conway, who had brought up the preceding motion, 
brought forward another on the twenty-seventh day of the 
same month, to the same effect. This occasioned a long de- 
bate. It was then moved to adjourn the debate till the 13th 
of March, in the following month, but there was a small ma- 
jority against it. 

The original motion and address to the king, formed upon 
the resolution, were then carried without a division, and the 
address was ordered to be presented by the whole house. 

To this his majesty answered, '• That in pursuance of their 
advice, he would take such measures as should appear to hira 
the most conducive to the restoration of harmony between 
Great Britain and the colonies." This answer being unsatisfac- 
tory to the house. General Conway moved another resolution, 
which was to the following effect: "That the house would con- 
sider as enemies to his majesty and the kingdom, all those who 
should advise, or by any means attempt the further prosecution 
of offensive war on the continent of America, for the purpose 
of reducing the colonies to obedience by force." This motion 
was carried without a division. This resolution and the pre- 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 391 

ceding address may be considered as the closing scene of the 
American war. As it was made a parliamentary war, by an 
address from Parliament for its prosecution, in 1775, it now wag 
no longer so, by an address from the most numerous branch of 
the same Parliament, in February, 1782, for its discontinuance, 
A change of the ministry was the consequence of the change 
of that political system, which for seven years had directed the 
affairs of Great Britain. A new administration was formed 
under the auspices of the Marquis of Rockingham, and was 
composed of characters who opposed the American war. This 
was about the first of July, 1782. The Marquis dying soon 
after, was succeeded by Earl Shelburne. To remove constitu- 
tional impediments to negotiate with the late British colonies, 
an act of Parliament was passed, granting to the crown powers 
for negotiating or concluding a general or particular peace or 
truce, with the whole or with any part of the colonies, and for 
setting aside all former laws, whose operation was in contraven- 
tion to that purpose. 

Sir Guy Carleton, who had lately been appointed to the chief 
command of the royal army in North America, was instructed 
to use his best endeavours, for carrying into effect the wishes of 
Great Britain, for an accommodation with the Americans. He, 
therefore, in May, 17S2, dispatched a letter to Washington, 
informing him of the late proceedings of Parliament, and of 
the dispositions so favourable to the United States, which were 
prevalent in Great Britain, and at the same time solicited a 
passport for his Secretary, Mr. Morgan, to pay a visit to Con- 
gress. His request was refused. The application for it, with 
its concomitant circumstances, were considered as introductory 
to a scheme for opening negotiations with Congress or the 
states without the concurrence of their allies. This caused no 
small alarm, and gave rise to sundry resolutions, by which sev- 
eral states declared, that a proposition from the enemy to all or 
any of the states for peace or a truce, separate from their allies, 
was inadmissible. Congress resolved, that they would not enter 
into the discussion of any overtures for pacification, but in con- 
fidence and in concert with Louis XVI. his most christian 



392 ' HISTORY OF THE 

majesty. This conduct extinguished all hopes, that great Bri- 
tain might have entertained, of making a separate peace with 
the United States. The disposition of Great Britain, ho(\'ever, 
to acknowledge the independence of the United States, had re- 
moved the principal difficulty, which had hitherto obstructed a 
general pacification. Seven years experience had proved to 
the nation, that the conquest of America was impracticable ; 
they now received equal conviction, that the recognition of the 
independence of the United States, was an indispensible prelim- 
inary to the termination of a war, from the continuance of 
which, neither profit or honour was to be acquired. The pride 
of Great Britain for a long time resisted, but that passion was 
obliged to yield to the superior influence of interest. The feel- 
ings of the nation were no longer to be controlled by the ho- 
nour of ministers. 

Independence, which wae neither thought of nor wished for 
by the United States in the years 1774 and 1775, became in 
the year 1776, their favourite object. A recognition of this, 
which throughout the war had been the object of abhorrence to 
the British nation, became in the year 1782, a popular measure 
in Great Britain, as the means of putting an end to a ruinous 
war. « 

In the year 1782, there was a barbarous and unprovoked mas^ 
sacre of the civilized Indians, settled on the upper parts of the 
Muskingum, (in the state of Ohio). The cruelties of the Americans 
on this occasion, equalled the barbarities of the tories and Indians 
at Wyoming. The Indians on the Muskingum, under the influ- 
ence of some pious missionaries of the Moravians, had been 
formed into a considerable degree of civil and religious order. 
They abhorred war, and would take no part therein, giving for 
reason, that " the Great Spirit did not make men to destroy 
men, but to love and assist each other." From a love of peace 
and friendship to the human family, they advised their country- 
men, who were inclined to make war on the whites, to desist. 
They were also induced, from principles of humanity, to give 
intelligence to the white people of their danger, when they knew 
that their settlements were about to be invaded. This conduct 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 393 

provoked the hostile Indians to such a degree, that they carried 
these pacific people quite away from the banks 8f the Muskin- 
gum to those of the Sandusky, (in the same state). Tliey find- 
ing corn dear and scarce in their new habitations, obtained lib- 
erty from their countrymen, to return in the autumn of the 
same year to Muskingum, in order to gather the crops they had 
planted before their removal. 

When the white people, at and near the river Monongahelia, 
in Pennsylvania and Virginia, heard that the pacific Indians 
had returned to the Moravian towns, and were eagaged in har- 
vesting their corn, they gave out that their intentions were hos- 
tile. They accordingly, to the number of one hundred and 
sixty, assembled, and after crossing the Ohio, they proceeded 
to the Muskingum, and put to death these inoffensive unsus- 
pecting people, though no resistance was made. Agreeably to 
their religious principles, these Indians patiently submitted to 
their hard fate, without attempting to destroy their savage mur- 
derers. The number slaughtered exceeded ninety. The per- 
fidy of the conquerors is not surpassed in the annals of savage 
warfare. These Indians were deliberately murdered, the next 
morning after they had been taken. 

Soon after this wanton and unprovoked massacre, a party 
of the Americans set out for Sandusky, to destroy the Indian 
towns in that part ; but the Delawares, Wyandots and uther 
Indians opposed them with heroic courage ; an engagement 
ensued, in which the Americans were defeated, and several made 
prisoners. Among the latter was Colonel Crawford, the com- 
mander. The colonel and the prisoners were all put to death. 
The Indians, on this occasion, retaliated for the murder of their 
countrymen, at the Moravian towns on the Muskingum. 

During the revolutionary war, the desolation brought by the 
Indians, on the border settlements of the United States, and on 
the Indian towns near those border settlements by the whites, 
were such as to excite commiseration in the most obdurate 
hearts. 

Not only the men ajrd warriors, but the women and children, 
and whole districts were involved in promiscuous desolatio^iSo 
VOL. Ill, 50 



394 HISTORY OF THE 

The feelings of humanity were often suppressed, and full rei'gH 
given to the most savage passions. 

The commissioners for negociating peace, on the part of^he 
United States, were John Adams, who afterwards was President 
of the United States, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, who after- 
wards was governor of New- York, and Henry Laurens, On 
the part of Great Britain, Mr. Fitzherbert, and Mr. Oswald. 
Provisional articles of peace, between Great Britain and the 
United States, were agreed upon by these gentlemen, which 
were to be inserted in a future treaty of peace, to be finally con- 
cluded between the parties, when that between Great Britain 
and France took place. By these, the independence of the 
United States was acknowledged. This was about the thirtieth 
of November, 1782. Ample boundaries were allowed them, 
which comprehended the extensive countries, on both sides of 
the Ohio, and on the east side of the Mississippi. An unlimit- 
ed right of fishery on the banks of Newfoundland, and on 
other places, where both nations had heretofore been accustom- 
ed to fish, was likewise confirmed to the Americans. Five days 
after these provisional articles were signed, the British Parlia- 
ment met. They underwent a severe parliamentary discussion. 

The ministers of the United States procured for their coun- 
trymen better terms than they had reason to expect. From the 
necessity of the case, the loyalists were sacrificed nothing farther 
than a simple recommendation for restitution being stipulated in 
their favour. The case of the loyalists was a hard one, but 
unavoidable from the complex constitution of the United States. 
The American ministers engaged as far as they were autho- 
rised; and Congress simply recommended their case to the 
several states. In conformity to the letter and spirit of the 
treaty, Congress urged the propriety of making restitution to 
the loyalists, but to procure it was beyond their power. 

Treatment of Prisoners, inc. — The first American prisoners 
were taken on the seventeenth of June, 1775. These were 
thrown into the jail at Boston, without regard to rank. Wash- 
ington wrote to General Gage on this subject, but without effect. 



STATE OF NEW-YORR* 39£» 

Sir Guy Carleton coiwlucted himself towards the American 
prisoners with humanity, which reflected honour on his character. 
Before he commenced his operations on Lake Champlain, in 
1776, he shipped off those of them who were officers, for ISew- 
England, but previously supplied them with things to make 
them comfortable while on their voyage. The soldiers, amount- 
ing to eight hundred, were sent home by a flag, after exacting 
an oath from them not to serve during the war, unless ex- 
changed. Many of these being almost naked, were clothed 
by his orders. 

The capture of General Lee proved calamitous to several in- 
dividuals. Six Hessian officers were offered in exchange for 
him, but this was refused. The British treated Lee as a de- 
serter: he was confined and guarded. Congress directed Wash- 
ington to notify General Howe, that should the proffered 
exchange of General Lee for six field-officers not be accepted, 
and the treatment of him be continued, the principles of retali- 
ation should occasion five of the said Hessian field-officers, to- 
gether with Lieutenant-cqlonel Campbell, to be detained, in 
order that the said treatment which Lee received should be in- 
flicted on their persons. General Howe refusing to accept the 
proffers, or relent Lee's treatment, the resolution of Congress 
was carried into effect. 

The prisoners captured by Sir William Howe, in 1777, 
amounted to several thousands. The officers were admitted to 
parole, and had some waste houses assigned to them as quar- 
ters, but the privates were shut up in the coldest season of the 
year in churches, sugar- houses, and other large open buildings. 
The severity of the weather, and the rigour of their treatment, 
occasioned the death of many of these unfortunate men. The 
filth of the places of their confinement, in consequence of fluxes 
which prevailed among them, was both offensive and dangerous. 
Seven dead bodies have been seen in a single building at one 
time, and all lying in a situation shocking to humanity. The 
provisions served out to them were deficient in quantity, and of 
an unwholesome quality. After Washington's successes at 
Trenton and Princeton, tho^ American prisoners fared better. 



396 HISTORY OF THE 

Those who survived were ordered to be sent out for exchange, 
but some of them fell down dead in the streets, while attempting 
to walk to the vessels. Others were so emaciated, that their 
appearance was horrible. 

The American sailors, when captured by the British, suffered 
more than the soldiers. They were crowded on board prison- 
ships in such numbers, and their accommodations were so 
wretched, that diseases broke out, and swept them off in such a 
manner as to excite compassion in breasts of the least sensibility^ 
It has been asserted that, in the last six years of the war, up- 
wards of eleven thousand persons died on board the Jersey, 
one of the prison-ships, which was stationed in East River, 
near New-York. This number, it is probable, is considerably 
overrated. It is, however, certain that several thousand died 
in that period on board of that ship, and that the rights of se- 
pulture were never, or but imperfectly conferred. For some 
time after the war, their bones lay whitening in the sun, on the 
shore oi Long Island. 

The operations of treason laws added to the calamities of the 
war. Individuals on both sides, wjiile they were doing no more 
than they supposed to be their duly, were involved in the penal 
consequences of capital crimes. The Americans, in conformity 
to the policy of nations, demanded the allegiance of all who 
resided among them, but many of these preferred the royal go- 
vernment, and were disposed to support it. While they acted 
in conformity to these sentiments, the laws enacted for the se- 
curity of the new government condemned them to death. Hard 
is the lot of a people involved in civil war ; for in such circum- 
stances, the lives of individuals may not only be legally forfeited, 
but justly taken from those who have acted from a sense of 
duty. Of all wars, civil wars are most to be deprecated : they 
are attended with the bitterest resentments. In Europe, where 
military operations are carried on by armies hired for the pur- 
pose, the people do not partake so widely in its calamities ; but 
in America, where every able-bodied man was enrolled in the 
militia, and where both sides endeavoured to strengthen them- 
selves by oaths and by laws denouncing the penalties of treason 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 397 

on those who aided the opposite party, the sufi'erings of indivi- 
duals were renewed as often as fortune varied her standard. 
Each side claimed the co-operation of the inhabitants, and was 
ready to punish when it was withheld. 

In the first institution of the American governments, the 
boundaries of authority were not properly fixed. Committees 
exercised legislative, executive, and judicial powers. Thesfe 
committees often injured the cause of America. In many in- 
stances the members used their power improperly. Private re- 
sentments were often covered under the specious veil of patri- 
otism. The sufferers, in passing over to the royalists, carried 
over with them a keen remembrance of the vengeance of com- 
mittees, and, when opportunities offered, retaliated. One in- 
stance of severity begat another, and they continued to increase 
in a proportion that doubled the evils of war. From one un- 
advised step, individuals were often involved in the loss of their 
property. Some, from present appearances, apprehending that 
the British would conquer, repaired to their standard. Their 
return after the partial storm, which intimidated them to sub- 
mission, had blown over, was always difficult, and often impos- 
sible. Inadvertent offences were rarely forgiven. Thus, from 
error in judgment on one side, and that unrelenting spirit of 
forgiveness on the other, such were often obliged to seek safety 
by continuing to support the enemy. The embarrassments on 
both sides, owing to spies and secret informers, were often so 
great, that men could not tell what course it was best to pursue.. 
Those who made up^feeir minds on the nature of the contest, and 
invariably pursued c^ course, were the best off, since they en- 
joyed self-approbation. Those who changed with the times often 
missed their object. The whigs were exasperated against those 
of their fellow-citizens who joined their enemies, with a resent- 
ment which was far more bitter than that which they harboured 
against their European adversaries. Feeling that the whole 
strength of the states was hardly sufficient to protect them 
against the British, they could not brook the desertion of their 
countrymen to invading foreigners. They seldom would give 
them credit for acting from principle, but generally supposed 



^98 HISTORY OF THE 

them to be influenced either by cowardice or interest, and were 
therefore inclined to proceed against them with extreme rigour. 
The royalists^ raised the cry of persecution, and loudly com- 
plained that, merely for supporting the government under which 
they were born, and to which they owed natural allegiance, 
they were doomed to suffer all the penalties due to capital of- 
fenders. Those of them who acted from principle, felt no con- 
sciousness of guilt, and could not but look with abhorrence 
upon a government, which inflicted such severe punishments on 
what they deemed a laudable line of conduct. Humanity would 
shudder at a particular recital of the calamities which the whigs 
infllcte'd on the tories, and the tories on the whigs. They, for 
the most part, on both sides, consoled themselves with the be- 
lief that they were acting or suffering in a good cause. Though, 
the rules of moral right and wrong never vary, political inno- 
cence and guilt change so much with circumstances, that the 
innocence of the sufferer and of the party that punishes are 
often compatible. 

The distresses of the American prisoners in the southern 
states were great towards the close of the war. Colonel Camp- 
bell, who reduced Savannah, though he had been very illy 
treated by order of Congress when he was prisoner, treated all 
the Americans who fell into his hands with mildness and huma- 
nity. The American prisoners, with a few exceptions, had but 
little to complain of, till after the defeat of General Gates.. 
Soon after that event, sundry of them were sent into exile. 
When an exchange of prisoners was effected, the wives and 
children of those inhabitants of Charleston and the adjoining 
parts, who adhered to the American cause, were exiled to Vir- 
ginia and other places, to the number of one thousand. This 
severe treatment was the occasion of retaliating on the families 
of those who had taken part with the British. Governor Rut- 
ledge ordered that the families of such as adhered to the royal 
cause, should be sent within the British lines. By this order, 
several hundreds of helpless women and children were reduced 
to great distress. 

The refugees who had fled to the city of New- York were 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 399 

formed into an association, under Sir Henry Clinton, for the 
purpose of retaliating on the Americans, and for reimbursing 
the losses they had sustained from their countrymen. The de» 
predations they committed in their excursions were extensive. 
Towards the close of the war, they began to retaliate on a 
bolder scale. Captain Joshua Huddy, who commanded h 
small party of Americans, at a block-house, in the county of 
Monmouth, and state of New-Jersey, was taken prisoner by a 
party of refugees. He was brought to the city of New-York, 
and there imprisoned fifteen days, and then told that he was 
sentenced to be hanged. Four days after, he was sent out with 
a party of refugees, and hanged on the heights of Middletown. 
The following label was affixed on his breast, — " We, the re- 
fugees, having long with grief beheld the cruel murders of our 
brethren, and finding nothing but such measures daily carrying 
into execution ; we, therefore, are determined not to sufier without 
taking vengeance for the numerous cruelties, thus begin, and 
have made use of Captain Huddy as the first object to pre- 
sent to your view, and further determine to hang man for man 
while there is a refugee existing. Up goes Huddy for Philip 
While !" 

Washington resolved on retaliation for this murder, but in- 
stead of immediately executing a British officer, he wrote to Sir 
Henry Clinton that, unless the perpetrators were given up, he 
should be under the necessity of retaliating. The former being 
refused, Captain Asgill was designated by lot for that purpose, 
but his execution was not carried into effect. Sir Guy Carleton, 
the successor of Sir Henry Clinton, broke up this board of 
royalists, and being a man of great humanity and excellent 
character, prevented repetitions of similar excesses. The pri- 
soners, after he assumed the command of the British army at 
New-York, were treated with respect and clemency. 

Discharge of the American army. — While the citizens of the 
United States were anticipating the blessings of peace, their 
army, which had stemmed the tide of the British victories, was 
unrewarded for its meritorious services. The states, which had 
been rescued by their exertions from a foreign yoke, were in 



400 HISTORY OF THE 

no condition to pay their stipulated due. To dismiss officers 
and soldiers, who had spent the prime of their lives in serving 
their country without an equivalent for their labours, and with- 
out even a sufficiency to enable them to gain a decent living, 
was a hard case. Au attempt was made, by anonymous and 
seditious pubiications, to inflame the minds of the officers and 
soldiers, and induce them to unite in redressing their own griev- 
ances, while they had arms in their hands. This was March 
tenth, 1783. As soon as Washington was informed of the 
nature of these papers, he requested the General and field-offi- 
cers, with one officer from each company, and a representation 
from the staff of the army, to assemble at an early hour, on the 
fifteenth of the same month. He rightly judged, that it would 
be much easier to divert them from a wronc to a right path, 
than to recall hasty steps after once taken. The period pre- 
vious to the meeting of the officers, was improved in prepar- 
ing them for the adoption of moderate measures. Wasliington 
sent for one officer after another, and ctmversed with them in 
private, on the fatal consequences, and particularly on the loss 
of character to the whole army, whis h would result irom in- 
temperate resolutions. When the officers were convened, 
Washiogton addressed them, in a speech well calculated to 
calm their minds. He also pledged himself to exert all his 
abilities and influence in their favour, and requested them to 
rely on the faith of their country, and conjured them, as they 
valued their honor — as they respected the rights of humanity, 
and as they regarded the military and national character of 
America, to express their utmost detestation of the man, who 
was attempting to open the flood-gates of discord, and deluge 
their rising empire with blood. This speech had the desired 
effect. The moment was seized while the minds of the officers, 
softened by the eloquence of the illustrious chief, were in a 
pliable state, and a resolution was unanimously adopted, by 
which they declared, that no circumstance of distress or danger 
should induce a conduct that might tend to sully the reputation 
and glory they had acquired ; that the army continued to have 
an unshaken confidence in the justice of Congress and their' 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 401 

country, and tbtit they viewed with abhorrence, and rejected 
with disdain, the infamous propositions in the late anonymuus 
address to the ofiicers of the army. The author of the aodicKs 
has consigned his name to infamy. Too much praise cannot 
be given to Washington for the patriotism, which marked ins 
conduct in this transaction. 

To avoid the inconveniences of dismissing a great number 
of soJdiers in a body, furloughs were granted to individuals, 
and after their dispersion, they were not enjoined to return. 
The granting of furloughs commenced, May twenty-sixth, 1783. 
By. this arrangement, a critical moment was got over. A 
great part of an army was disbanded and dispersed over the 
states, without tumult or disorder. The privates generally 
betook themselves to labour, and crowned the merit of being 
good soldiers, by becoming good citizens. Several of the 
officers, who bad been bred mechanics, resumed their trades. 
As the soldiers had been easily formed in 1 775 out of farmers 
and mechanics, so with equal ease in the year 1783, they drop- 
ped the character of soldiers, and resumed their former occupa- 
tions. About eighty of the Pennsylvania levies formed an 
exception to the peaceable disposition of the army. These, in 
defiance of their officers, set out from Lancaster, and marched 
to Philadelphia, to seek a redress of their grievances from the 
executive council of that state. This was on the twentieth of 
June, 1783. The mutineers persisted in their march, till they 
arrived at Philadelphia. There they were joined by some 
other troops. The whole, amounting to three hundred men, 
marched with fixed bayonets and drums to the state-house, in 
which the Congress and the supreme executive council of Penn- 
sylvania held their sessions. They placed guards at every 
door, and sent in a written message to the president and coun- 
cil of the state, and threatened them, if their demands were not 
complied with in twenty minutes. The situation of the Con- 
gress, though they were not the particular object of the soldiers* 
resentment, was far from agreeable. About three hours after, 
the Congress retired, and soon afterwards left Philadelphia, 
and fixed on Princeton in New-Jersey, as the place of their 

VOL. Ill, 51 



402 HISTORY OF THE 

next meeting. Washington, on being apprised of this, sent a 
numerous detachment of his army to Philadelphia, to quell the 
mutineers. Several were taken and tried, and sentenced to 
death, but subsequently they were pardoned. 

Congress, on the eighteenth of October, 1783, issued a pro- 
clamation, in which the armies of the United States were 
applauded for their fortitude, bravery, and good conduct during 
the war. Congress then declared, that such part of the armies 
as stood engaged to serve during the war, should, from and 
after the third of November, in the following month, be dis- 
charged. On the second day of November, it being the day 
preceding their dismission, Washington issued his farewell 
orders. After commending the officers and soldiers for their 
bravery, constancy, and good conduct, he gave them his advice 
respecting their future conduct ; and bidding them farewell, he 
concluded with these words : " May ample justice be done to 
you here, and may the choicest of heaven's favours, both here 
and hereafter, attend yon, who, under the Divine auspices, have 
secured innumerable blessings for your countrymen. With 
these wishes, and this benediction, the commander-in-chief is 
about to retire from service ; the curtain of separation will soon 
be drawn, and the military scene will to him be closed forever." 
Wi h great exertions, four months' pay, in part of several 
years' arrearages, was given to the army. 

The evacuation of the city of New- York, and the adjacent 
posts, took place en the twenty-fifth of November, in the same 
month. For twelve months preceding, there had been an un- 
restrained communication between that city and the country. 
The bitterness of war passed away, and civilities were inter- 
changed between the Americans and British. Washington and 
the governor of New-York, with their suites, made a public 
entry into the city of New- York, as soon as the British army 
was withdrawn. The lieutenant-governor, and members of the 
council, the officers of the American army and the citizens, 
followed in procession. In the evening there was a display of 
fire-works, which exceeded every thing of the kind before seen 
in the United States. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 403 

The hour now approached, ui which it became necessary for 
Washington to take leave of his officers. This was done in a 
solemn manner. Washington addressed them — "with a heart 
full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you ; 1 most 
devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and 
happy, as your former ones have been glorious and honourable." 
The officers came up successively, and he took leave of each» 
When this scene was over, Washington proceeded to the place 
of embarkation, passing through a corps of infantry. The 
officers followed in solemn procession, with dejected counte- 
nances. On his entering the barge to cross the Hudson, he 
turned towards the companions of his glory, and by waving his 
hat, bid them a silent adieu. 

Washington, on the approaching dissolution of the army, by 
a circular letter to the governors of the individual states, gave 
his parting advice to his countrymen, and, with the charms of 
eloquence, inculcated the necessity of union, justice, and subor- 
dination, and of such principles and practice as their new situa- 
tion required. 

The army b&ing disbanded, Washington proceeded to Anna- 
polis, in Maryland, then the seat of Congress, to resign his 
commission. On his way thither he delivered to the Comptrol- 
ter in Pliiladelphia, an account ci all the public money he had 
ever received. This waa in his own handwriting. The whole 
sum, which in the course of the war, had passed through his 
hands, amounted only to 14,479/. 185. 9d. sterling, a sum equi- 
valent to G3,711 dollars and 72 cents. Nothing was charged 
or retained as a reward for personal services, and actual dis- 
bursements had been managed with such economy and fidelity, 
that they were all covered by the above sura. 

In every town and village through which the illustrious chief 
passed, he was met by public and private demonstrations of gra- 
titude and joy. When he arrived at Annapol", on the nine- 
teenth day of December, he informed Congress of his intention 
to ask leave to resign the commission he had the honour to hold 
in their service, and desired to know their pleasure in what man- 
ner it would be most proper to be done. They resolved, that 



404 HISTORY OF THE 

it should be done in a public audience. When the day (which 
was the twetity-ihird of December) fixed for that purpose arriv- 
ed, a great number of persons attended. At a proper moment, 
Washington addressed Thomas Mifflin, the President, in the 
following words : 

*• Mr. President, 

" The great events on which ray resignation depended 
having at length taken place, I have now the honour of offering 
my sincere congratulations to Congress, and of presenting my' 
self before them, to surrender into their hands the trust commit- 
ted to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the ser- 
vice of my country. 

»* Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sove- 
reignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United 
States of becoming a respectable nation, T resign with satisfaction 
the appointment I accepted with diffidence ; a diffidence in my 
abilities to accomplish so arduous a task, which, however, was 
superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the 
support of the supreme power of the Union, and the patronage 
of Heaven. ^ 

*• The sxAccpssful termination of the war has verified the most 
sanguine expectationc, and my gratitude for the interposition of 
Providence, and the assisianre 1 have received from my coun- 
trymen, increases with every review of the momentous contest. 

" While I repeat my obligations to the airniy in general, I 
should do injustice to my own feeHngs, not to acknowledge in 
this place, the peculiar service and distinguished merits of the 
persons who had been attached to my person during the war ; 
it was impossible the choice of confidential officers, to compose 
my family, should have been more fortunate; permit me sir, 
to recommend in particular, those who have continued in the 
service to vbe present moment, as worthy of the favourable 
notice and patronage of Congress. 

** 1 consider it as am indispensible duty, to close this last and 
solemn act of my official Vife, by commending the interest of our 
dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and those 
who have the superintendence of them, to His holy keeping. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 405 

"Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from 
the great theatre of action ; and bidding an aflectionate fare- 
well to this august body, under whose orders I have so long 
acted, I here oft'er my commission, and take my leave of all the 
employments of public life." 

To this the President, Mr. Mifflin, returned the following 
answer : 

" The United States in Congress assembled receive, with 
emotion too affecting for utterance, the solemn resignation of 
the authorities under which you have led their troops with suc- 
cess, tiirough a perilous and doubtful war. 

*« Called upon by your country to defend its invaded rights, 
you had accepted the sacred charge before it had formed alli- 
ances, and whilst it was without friends or a government to sup- 
port you. 

«' You have conducted the great military forces with wisdom 
and fortitude, invariably regarding the rights of the civil power 
through all disasters and changes. You have, by the love and 
confidence of your fellow-citizens, enabled them to display their 
martial genius, and transmit their fame to posterity ; you have 
persevered, till these United States, aided by a magnanimous 
and powerful nation, have been enabled, under a just Provi- 
dence, to close the war in freedom, safety and independence ; on 
which happy event we sincerely join you in congratulations. 

" Having defended the standard of liberty in this New World 
- — having taught a lesson, useful to those who inflict, and to 
those who feel oppression, you retire from the great theatre of 
action with the blessings of your fellow-citizens ; but the glory 
of your virtues will not terminate with your military command- 
it will continue to animate the remotest ages. We feel with 
you our obligations to the army in general, and will particu- 
larly charge ourselves with the interest of those confidential 
officers who have attended your person to this affecting moment. 

«» We join you in commending the interest of our dearest 
country to the protection of Almighty God, beseeching Him to 
* dispose the hearts and minds of its citizens to improve the op- 
portunity afforded them of becoming a happy and respectable 



406 HISTORY OF THE 

nation. And for you, we address to Him our earnest prayers, 
that a life so beloved may be fostered with all his care ; that 
your days may be happy as they have been illus'rious, and that 
He will finally give you that reward which this world cannot 
give." 

The mingled emotions that agitated the minds of the specta- 
tors during this affecting scene were indescribable. Immedi- 
diately on resigning his commission, Washington hastened, with 
ineffable delight, to his seat at Mount Vernon, on the Virginia 
side of the Potomac. 

To pass suddenly from the toils of the first public commission 
in the United States to the care of a farm ; to exchange the in- 
struments of war for the implements of husbandry, would to 
most men have been a difficult task ; but to the elevated mind 
of Washington it was natural and delightful. The commanders 
of armies may learn from his example, that the fame which is 
acquired in the field without guilt or ambition, can be preserved 
without power or splendor in private life. 

See Ramsey's History of the Revolutionary War. &c.- 



X STATE OF NEW-VORK. 407 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Controversy ivith Vermont resumed — Neiv-YorJc consents to re- 
linquish all claims to Vermont — Boundary benvern the two 
states Jived — The causes which led to the settlement of the 
western country — Cession of the Genesee country by the Go- 
vernment of Neiv- \ ork to that of Massachusetts — Oliver 
Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham purchase the country of Gene- 
see from Massachusetts — Military lands — Mr. Hugh White, 
the pioneer oj the western country, settles at Saughdaghquada, 
now Whitesborough, in the county of Oneida — Settlement 
made at Onondaga Hollow by Mr, Webster. — Settlements 
made at Seneca Falls in Seneca county, and at East Cayuga 
in Cayuga county — Cooperstown, in Otsego county, founded, 
and Oxford, in the county of Chenango — Oliver Phelps sets 
out from Gorham, in Massachusetts, Jor the Genesee country 
— His arrival at Canandaigua — He negotiates a treaty with 
the Senecas, and purchases large tracts of land from them^^ 
O. Phelps founds Canandaigua, and opens a land office — Ge- 
neva founded — Pittsford, Geneseo, and otht r places, founded 
— Ontario erected into a county — Road mode from the settle- 
ments of Whitestown via Oneida, Canasarnga, Onondaga, 
Cayuga and Geneva to Canandaigua — Onondaga erected into 
a county — Population of the ivestern country in 1800 — Emi- 
grations to the counties on ano near the Hudson — Obstacles 
thrown in the way of emigrants — Act for the sale of the un- 
appropriated lands. 

The controversy between New-York and Vermont resumerl. 
The resolves of Congress did not meet the expectations of 
the government of New-York. The legislature, on the fifteenth 
and nineteenth of November, passed a number of resolves, and 
enterjed a solemn protest against the resolves made by Con- 
gress. The resolves of that body, it would seem, i.ad been dif- 



408 HISTORY OF THE 

ferent from what had been expected by the leading men of 
New-York, but such perhaps as equity, under all the circum- 
stances presented, might have required. It was necessary that 
the persons and property of the Vermontese should be protected 
against invasions under assumed rights. The New-Hampshire 
grants, by every rule of natural right, ought to be confirmed. 
Ne\v«Yorli had refused to do this, but, nevertheless, had sub- 
mitted the matter to Congress. The claims of New-York, so 
far as respected sovereignty and jurisdiction, were plain, and so 
they were in respect to the grants. Tiie Indigines had never 
been consulted as to the soil ; the lands were vacant. Circum- 
stanced as they were, the colonial government and its succes- 
sors had no natural right to disposess men who had went on 
to them, and made improvements. The grounds which the 
rulers of New- York had all along taken, were such as to pre- 
clude tlie idea of conciliation. The delegates were instructed 
to enter their dissent ; which they did, and this after the sub- 
mission to that body. 

The disaffection was not confined to the district claimed 
by New-York ; it spread, over the western towns of New- 
Hampshire. 

About the same time, the governor of New- York ordered 
out a detachment of militia, to suppress, as was alleged, a com- 
bination formed by the people living in some of the towns 
contiguous to the New-York boundary, to obstruct the due 
execution of the laws. Brigadier-general Gansevoort, who 
had distinguished himself at the siege of Fort Stanwix, was 
sent out upon this service. This ofticer marched with the 
militia to the town of Hoosack, where a Mr. Walbridge had 
assembled a considerable body of the Vermontese, for the pur- 
pose of opposing the sheriff and his abettors, in the execution 
of the law in respect of ejectment recoveries. 

General Gansevoort addressed a note to Mr. Walbridge, in 
which he gave him to understand that he must disband his 
men, and return home, otherwise he would be treated as an 
insurgent. Walbridge temporised, and spun out the time, so 
that nothing was done on either side ; and the New-York 
militia gradually disbanded themselves, and returned home. 



STATE OF NEW- YORK. 409 

The assembly of Vermont met in the month of February, 
1782, at Bennington, and after considerable debates in relation 
io their condition, came to the following conclusion, on the 
22d of the same month : 

" The recommendation of the grand committee, consisting 
of the governor, the honorable the council, and the represen- 
tatives of the people, on taking into consideration the resolutions 
of Congress respecting this state, in the month of August last, 
being read, is as follows : " That in the sense of this committee, 
Congress, by their resolution of August last, in guaranteeing 
to the states of New-Hampshire and New-York, respectively, 
all the territory without certain limits therein expressed, has 
eventually determined the boundaries of this state. And 
whereas, it appears to this committee consistent with the spirit, 
true intent and meaning, of the articles of union entered into 
by this state, with the inhabitants of a certain district of coun- 
try, on the east side of the west bank of Connecticut river, and 
on the west side of a line twenty miles east of Hudson's river ; 
which articles of union were executed on the twenty-fifth of 
February, and the 15th of Jun^e last, that Congress should con- 
sider and determine the boundary lines of tbe state : it is recom- 
mended to the legislature of this state, to pass resolutions 
declaring their acquiescence in, and accession to, the determi- 
nation made by Congress, of the boundary lines between the 
states of New-Hampshire and New-York, respectively, and this 
state, as they are in such resolutions defined and described : 
and also expressly relinquishing all claims to jurisdiction over 
the said districts of territory, without said boundary lines, and 
the inhabitants thereftn residing. 

♦' Confiding in the faith and wisdom of Congress, they will 
immediately enter on measures to carry into effect the other 
matters In the said resolution contained ; and settle the same on 
equitable terms, whereby this state may be received into, and 
have and enjoy all the protection, rights and advantages, of a 
union with the United States, as free, independent and sovereign 
states, as is held forth to us in and by the said resolutions. 

VOL. Iir. 52 



410 HISTORY OF THE 

" And that the assembly cause official information of their 
resolutions, to be immediately transmitted to the Congress of 
the United States, and to the states of New-York and New- 
Hampshire. 

«' Whereupon, rfsolved, that the foregoing recommendation 
be complied with ; and that the west bank of Connecticut river 
and a line, beginning at the northwest corner of the state of 
Massachusetts, from thence northward twenty miles east of 
Hudson's river, as specified in the resolutions of Congress, in 
August last, be considered as the east and west boundaries of 
this state. That this assembly do hereby rehnquish all claims 
and demands to, and right of jurisdiction over, any and every 
district of territory without said boundary lines. That au- 
thentic copies of this resolution be forthwith sent to Congress, 
and to the states of New- York and New-Hanipshire, respec- 
tively." Such was the recommendation of the committee, and 
\he resolution of the assembly. Both construed the resolves of 
Congress, which were merely recommendatory to the states of 
New-York and New-Hampshire, as determining the controversy, 
aud establishing a new state. 

The legislature of Vermont had been led to the adoption of 
this measure, in consequence of a letter, bearing date, January 
first, 1782. from General Washington to Mr. Chittenden, the 
then governor. In this letter he says, •• it is not my business, 
neither do 1 think it necessary now to discuss the origin of the 
riihtofa number of inhabitants to that tract of country, for- 
merly distinguished by the name of the New-Hampshire grants, 
and now known by that of Vermont. I will take it for 
granted, that their right was good, because Congress, by 
their resolve of the seventh of August, imply it, and by that 
of the twenty-first, are willing fully to confirm it, provided 
the new state is confined to certain prescribed bounds. It 
appears, therefore, to me, that the dispute of boundary is the 
only one that exists, and that being removed, all other dif- 
ficulties would be removed aUo ; and the matter terminated. 
You have nothing to do, but withdraw your jurisdictien to the 



STATE OP NEW-YORK. 411 

confines of your own limits, and obtain an acknowledgment of 
independence and sovereignty under the resolve of August, for 
so much territory, as does not interfere with the ancient esta- 
blished bounds of New-\ork, New-Hampshire and Massachu- 
setts. In my private opinion, while it behooves the delegates 
to do ample justice to a body of people, sufficiently respectable 
by their numbers, and entitled by other claims to be admitted 
into the confederation ; it becomes them also to attend to the in- 
terest of these constituents, and see that, under the appearance of 
justice to one, they do not materially injure the rights of others. 
I am apt to think, that this is the prevailing opinion of Con- 
gress." 

Such were the opinions expressed by the father of his coun- 
try. They had great weight, and were received almost as laws. 
They changed the views of a body of men, who, although they 
had been contending for their dearest rights, had set laws at 
defiance, and had disregarded the opinions of Congress, ex- 
pressed in resolves. 

The legislature of Vermont, after having passed the afore- 
said resolves, proceeded, and chose four delegates to represent 
that state in Congress. These were commissioned with plen- 
ary powers, to negotiate the admission of Vermont into the 
American confederation. Only two of the delegates were to 
take seats, in case of admission. 

In the mean time, Congress took up the subject again ; 
jhe refusal of the assembly in October, to comply with the 
resolutions Congress had made in August, was viewed in a 
very unfavourable light, and excited considerable indignation. 
Indeed the refusal, accompanied with inflammatory resolves, set- 
ting that body and all others at defiance, afibrded but too Just 

grounds. 

On March first, it was proposed in Congress to pass a resolve, 
that if, within one month from the time in which the resolve 
should be communicated to Thomas Chittenden, the governor, 
they should comply with the resolves of August seventh an(t 
twentieth, 1781, they should be immediately admitted into thdf' 
Union ; but if they should refuse this, and did not desist fron* 



412 HISTORY OF THIS 

attempting to exercise jurisdiction over tlie lands guaranteed to 
New-York and New-Hampshire, Congress would consider such 
neglect or refusal, as a manifest indication of designs hostile to 
the United States, and that all the pretensions and applications 
of the said inhabitants, heretofore made for admission into the 
Union, were fallacious and delusive ; and that thereupon the 
forces of the United States should be employed against the 
inhabitants, and Congress would consider all the lands witliin 
the territory to the eastward of the ridge of mountains, as guar- 
anteed to the state of New-Hampshire, and all the lands to the 
westward of said line, as guaranteed to New-York ; and that 
the commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States, 
should without delay or further order, carry the same into 
effect. But after some animated debates, the resolution was 
laid upon the table, and indefinitely postponed. 

On the thirty first of March, the delegates from Vermont 
laid before Congress the resolutions of the assembly of that 
state, in which they claimed a compliance with the resolves of 
Congress of August seventh and twentieth, and requested to be 
admitted into the conlederaiion as an independent and sove- 
reign state. Congress referred the matter to a committee of 
five of their members. On the seventeenth of April, the com- 
mittee made the following report : *'in the sense of your com- 
mittee, the people of the said district, by the last recited act, 
appear to have complied with the stipulation made and requir- 
ed of them in the resolutions of the twentieth and twenty-first of 
August, as preliminary to a recognition of their sovereignty and 
independence, and admission into the union of these states. And 
that the conditional promise and engagement of Congress of 
such recognition and admission, is thereby become absolute, 
and necessary to be performed. 

** Your committee, therefore, submit the following resolution : 
" That the district of territory called Vermont, as defined 
and limited in the resolutions of Congress of the twentieth and 
twenty-first of August, 178 J, be, and it is hereby recognized 
and acknowledged by the name of the state of Vermont, as a 
free, sovereign, and independent state ; and that a committee 



STATE OF NEW'YORIC. 413 

bo appointed to treat and confer with the agents and d* legates 
from the said state of Vermont, upon the terms and mode of 
the admission of the said state into the Union " 

When this report was read in Congress, a motion was made 
and seconded, that the first Tuesday in October following be 
assigned for the consideration of the report; the vote passtd 
in the negative. A motion was then made and seconded, that 
the third Tuesday in June next, be assigned for the considera- 
tion of the report; the vote was again in the negative. A mo- 
tion was then made and seconded, that Misnday next be assign- 
ed for the consideration of the report. This vote passed in the 
negative. 

From these votes, it is apparent that Congress were averse 
to a course, different from that contained in their resolutions of 
August twentieth and twenty-first, 1781. 

The interference of Congress closed about this time. In the 
autumn of the same year, the Vermontese assembly appointed 
agents, with full powers and instructions to renew their applica- 
tion for admission into the Union, but Congress refused to have 
any thing to do in the premises. Great Britain had conclnded 
a peace with the United States, and had in the treaty, renoun- 
ced all her claims to the contested territory. Congress might 
have coerced the Vermontese to a compliance, or to return to 
their allegiance to the state of New-York ; but that body deem- 
ed it expedient to let things rest, hoping in the mean time, 
that the passions of those concerned in the dispute would be 
assuaged, and that peace and harmony would follow. 

Such was the situation of Vermont at the close of 1783. 
Some of the inhabitants were strongly attached to the govern- 
ment of New-York, but the great body of the people were, and 
had always been, opposed to it. Their opposition did not, 
however, originate in a dislike to the government, hut to the 
measures pursued in relation to their lands. The colonial and 
state governments had pursued the same course in regard to the 
lands. The Vermontese held under grants made by New- 
Hampshire. They had an important interest at stake — they 
contended for their fire-places and altars. The government of 



414 .HISTORY OF THE 

New-York ought to have confirmed the grants— justice required 
it. They had been made under the faith of government ; the 
people had settled upon them, made improvements, and erected 
habitations. The lands cost New-York nothing, nor would the 
coffers of the province or state have been filled, or even bene- 
fited by the vacation of the grants. The wild lands of this 
state have in general been frittered away, and the New-Hamp- 
shire grants would have shared the same fate. Population, 
agriculture, and commerce, strengthen states, and replenish their 
coffers — not a {qv^ land jobbers or speculators. 

From 1783 to 1790 the controversy ren>ained almost dormant. 
The state of New- York neither pressed nor relinquished her 
claims to the territory. Much of the asperities between the parties 
abated. Public opinion in New-York, as well as the adjoining 
states, inclined towards the Vermontese. Almost the only com- 
plaints heard, came from the owners of lands granted by New- 
York. The Vermontese had never recognised the New-York 
grants, and iii most instances had re-granted the lands. 

The claimants under New-York laboured to obtain an equi- 
valent, but without effect. The government of New-York was 
unable or unwilling to lend its aid. It wished to back out of 
imprudent and impolitic measures, which were every day be- 
coming more and more unpopular. All it could and did do, 
was to recommend. During this period, Vermont constituted 
a separate government. It was neither represented in Congress, 
nor was it acknowledged by Congress. 

On the fifteenth of July, 1789, the legislature of the state of 
New-York came to a determination to renounce the rights, both 
of jurisdiction and sovereignty, to the tract of country called 
Vermont, and to acknowledge its independence. A law was, 
accordingly, passed to that effect. Commissioners were ap- 
pointed with full powers to run and settle the boundaries, and 
all other matters in dispute. The assembly of Vermont, on the 
twenty-third of October, in the same year, also appointed com- 
missioners to meet those of New-York. The commissioners 
met, and, after some conferences, came to an adjustment in re- 
spect to boundaries and all matters in difference. Thirty thou* 



STATE OP NEW-YORK. 416 

sand dollars were fixed upon as an equivalent for the lands 
claiined by people in New-York. 

Thus ended a controversy which had lasted upwards of 
twenty years, and which might have been settled by a single 
law in its very onset. New-York, had she limited her views to 
jurisdiction and liberal and enlightened policy, might still have 
posses>ed this fertile section of America. But, after all, per- 
haps at this day there may be no cause of regret — we think 
there ought to be none. New-York, as a state, has still ample 
territory, a growing population, and great resources, which are 
annual]} unfolding themselves. In a republic like that of the 
United States, composed of sovereign states, it is better that 
none ol these be too extensive, otherwise a time may come when 
the liberties of the smaller may be endangered. 

We shall now return to the more intimate affairs of the state, 
and show the causes that gave rise to its present greatness. 

The revolution which separated the United States from 
Great Britain, excited in the people a spirit of enterprise and 
emulation which had hitherto laid dormant. It enlarged their 
views, and opened to them new and extensive fields for action. 
Among the fields thus opened, no one presented so wide a range 
for enterprise and exertion as the state of New-York. Her 
most fertile and valuable lands were then overspread with for- 
ests and unoccupied. The inducements which these held out 
to enterprising emigrants were too alluring to be resisted. Be- 
fore the war the richness and importance of these lands were 
unknown, unless to some Indian traders, whose interests led them 
to conceal. The people of the different states composing the 
American confederation, were but little acquainted with one 
another anterior to the revolution. The states, while they were 
colonies, if we except those of New-England, never confederated 
for their mutual defence. The intercourse between the several 
states was casual. Distinct interests existed. These opposed 
powerful obstacles to enterprise. The New-Kngland states 
were settled by one people. These, as early as the year 1643, 
entered into a union for their mutual defence and security. The 
unioQ consisted of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Hartford and 



416 ^ HISTORY OF THE 

New-Haveii. Public affairs were transacted by commissioners 
appointed by the members of this union. These convened 
from time to time. They regulated all their intfrnal concerns, 
and provided for their defence against the Indians. All their 
wars with the natives were carried on under the direction of 
the commissioners, and by the united forces of the colonies. 
This gave energy, weight and decision to every thing which 
they undertook. In New-York it was otherwise. The origin- 
al settlers were Dutch. These, though equally enterprising 
with their neighbours of New-England, were depressed by a 
change of government which ensued in 16G4. After the sur- 
render the English laws and language were introduced. The 
English language became the language of business. The in- 
habitants were unacquainted with it. Public matters had to 
be transacted in that tongue. The people, before they could 
participate in the management of their public concerns, were 
under the necessity of learning that tongue. This was a diffi- 
cult task. None but the youth or rising generation could ac- 
complish it. To obtain a competent knowledge of a foreign 
language for the transaction of business, after a person has ar- 
rived at mature age, is a difficulty that few can surmount. Again, 
emigrations from the Netherlands ceased, in a great mea- 
sure. The early settlers and their descendants were isolated, 
and in certain respects cut off from a communication with the 
parent state. The emigrations from Great Britain and Ireland, 
were inconsiderable. The tyranny and bigotry of certain of 
the colonial governors, were such as to discourage many from 
settling in the country. The irruptions of the French and Inr 
dians, and the frequent wars between Great Britain and France, 
deterred many from making settlements. The New-England 
people, on account of some prejudices which they entertained 
against the Dutch, and which were not done away before the 
revolution, had a reluctance to settling in the province. Hence, 
the state of New-York, although the most important at this 
day, of any in the Union, was neglected, and suffered to re- 
main almost in a state of nature. In the year 1775, its popu- 
lation did not mitch e;sceed two hundred thousand souls, a num- 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 417 

ber little, if any, over what the city of New- York now coa- 
tciins. 

TJie war of the revolution, which proved ruinous to many, and 
which so greatly impoverished the nation, paved the way for 
improvements, not only in this state, but in the others. The 
continental army was composed of soldiers from the different 
states. The main army was cantoned in this state for no in- 
considerable portion of the time, which elapsed during the war. 
The officers and soldiers assimilated in their manners and cus- 
toms. They mingled with our citizens, and communicated to 
them some of their manners and customs. National and local 
prejudices and distinctions were in a measure done away. Men 
of elevated minds and extended views, set examples. Connex- 
ions were formed, marriages contracted, and social intercourse 
was established. Channels for commerce were opened. The 
inhabitants of different states trafficked together. Before the 
war, the people of the United States travelled very little from 
home. In Connecticut, ajourney to Albany and Schenectady, 
which is so easily performed at the present day, was considered 
arduous, and so mutfh so that it was seldom undertaken. The 
revolution seems to have shortened distances and removed im- 
pediments. The marches of the troops during the war, enlarg- 
ed the views of both officers and soldiers, and led to many re- 
searches and discoveries. A fondness for travelling was intro- 
duced. The extreme richness and beauty of our western lands 
were first made known by the troops, who, under the Colonels 
VanSchaick and VVillet, and the Generals Sullivan and Clin= 
ton, invaded and wasted the countries of the Onondagas, Cay- 
ugas and Senecas. Those under Van Schalck and Willet, 
traversed the space between Utica and Onondaga ; and those 
under Sullivan and Clinton, the space between Tioga Point and 
Genesee river, and between that river and the Mohawk, The 
greater part of the men employed in these expeditions were na- 
tives of New-England. These, on their return, after the dis- 
banding of the American army, in the year 1783, gave very 
glowing accounts of the goodness of the laqds, and the facili- 
ties offered for making settlements and accumulating property. 

VOL. Iir. 53 



418 HISTORY OF THE 

These accounts induced some of the people of New-England 
to take up resolutions to emigrate. Not a small number of the 
soldiers took up the same resolutions. Other causes also con- 
spired to induce emigrations, not only in the western coun- 
try, but into the counties within the basin of the Hudson, The 
first was the insurrection in Massachusetts in 1785. This lasted 
but a short time, being suppressed by the Generals Lincoln and 
Shepherd. Many persons concerned in it removed into the 
slates of New-York and Vermont, and more especially into the 
former. The numbers have been estimated at some thousands. 
Not a few were in the prime of life. The second was the ces- 
sion by the government of the state of New-York in 1786 to 
that of Massachusetts of large tracts of vacant lands in the 
western country. These lands consisted of two tracts. The 
one comprehends all that part of the state lying west of aline 
beginning on the north at the mouth of Great Sodus Bay, on 
the south side of Lake Ontario, and running thence southerly 
to the northerly boundary of Pennsylvania, except one mile on 
the east side of the river Niagara and the islands in that stream. 
Its length on the south side is about one hundred and forty 
miles, and on the north about one hundred. Its breadth on the 
east, from Lake Ontario to Pennsylvania, is about eighty-seven 
miles. The breadth is pretty uniform, westwardly, as far as 
Niagara river and the north easterly extremity of Lake Erie. 
The superfices of this tract contains about nine thousand and 
six hundred square miles, or six millions one hundred and forty- 
four thousand acres. The whole tract was formerly called Ge- 
nesee. 

The other tract comprehends ten or eleven townships of six 
miles square each, and is situated between Chenango river and 
Owego Creek, being in the counties of Broome and Tioga. 

These cessions, embracing about ten thousand square miles, 
and nearly one fourth of the state, were made by the then gov- 
ernment, however strange the transaction may appear at this 
day, to the government of Massachusetts, to quiet or put at rest 
certain antiquated claims, set up by the government of that 
state, to certain lands within the state of New- York. These 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 419 

antiquated claims were based and supported by an antiquated 
chai ler, which never had any validity. New-York ceded every 
thin«j save sovereignty, and without any equivalent. There 
was no quid pro quo. 

Thec,overnmentofiJassachusetts sold the first tract to Oliver 
Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham, (or one million of dollars, and 
the other to John Brown and others, for three thousand three 
hundred dollars, and some cents. Thus much, at present, con- 
cerning lands trifled away without any equivalent, or so much 
as a beaver skin. 

We shall next notice the military lands, as they are called.— 
The lands under this denomination were set apart by the legis- 
lature, iu the year 17S2, for the officers and soldiers of the state 
of New-York, who should serve in the army of the United 
States to the end of the war according to law. These lands 
were bounded on the east by the country of the Oneidas, on 
the north by Lake Ontario, on the west by a line drawn from 
the mouth of Great Sodus Bay, through the most westerly in- 
clination of Seneca Lake, and on the south by a line drawn 
through the most southerly inclination of Seneca Lake, easterly 
to the country of the Oneidas. The number of acres embraced 
in the military tract, is about one million eight hundred thou- 
sand. The military tract comprises, pretty generally speaking, 
the counties of Onondaga, Cortlandt, Cayuga, Tompkins and 
Seneca, and the easterly half, or nearly so, of the county of 
Wayne, and the southwesterly part of the county of Oswego, 
or that part of that county situated on the left bank of Oswego 
river. Prior to the cession made to Massachusetts, and the 
grant made to the officers and soldiers, the Agoneasean, or 
Indian title, was not extinguished. Messrs. Phelps and Gor- 
ham, and the government of New- York, had to extinguish these 
before settlements could be commenced. But before we speak 
in relation to the extinguishment of the Indian title to the 
Massachusetts and military lands, and the commencement of set- 
tlements on those lands, it will be necessary to advert to some 
other settlements of prior date. 



420 HISTORY OF THE 

In January, 1784, Mr. Hugh White, in company with four 
or five other families, removed with his family from the stale of 
Connecticut into the state of New York, and settled at a place 
four miles west of the now populous and flourishing town of 
Ulica, then known by the name of Saughdaghquadu, but at 
present by that of Whitesborough. This was the first settle- 
ment ever made in the western country by civilized man. The 
Mohawk settlements terminated seven or eight miles below 
Utica. These were feeble, the greater part of the Mohawk 
country being still overshadowed by forest trees. The roads 
running along and near the Mohawk, were bad. Westwardly 
of Germanflats, which was the rr.ost remote settlement in the 
Mohawk country, there was a continuous forest that extended 
fnr beyond the siate. This forest was not intersected or traver- 
sed by any roads, save Indian paths, on which only single 
persons could travel on foot, if we except a rude road running 
from the utmost verge of Germanflats by Fort Schuyler, and 
through Saughdaghquadu to Fort Stanwix, now Rome. Fort 
Schuvler, as we have heretofore remarked, stood close by where 
the bridge crossing the Mohawk at Utica now is. 

Before we proceed farther concerning the settlement of 
"Whitestown, &.c., we shall introduce an extract from the Ga- 
zetteer of Dr. Horatio G. Spafibrd, published in 1813. We 
think it will be read with interest by the western people. Dr. 
Spafibrd copied it from a journal printed at Utica, styled the 

Patriot, 

«♦ Died at Whitestown, on the sixteenth, — 1812, Hugh White, 
Esq., aged eighty years. 'I'he death of this venerable man 
excites many interesting reflections. He may justly be consi- 
dered as the Patriarch who first led the children of New-Eng- 
land into the wilderness ; and it may be truly said, that he has 
Jived to see and enjoy the promised land. 

*♦ In the year 1784, he removed with his family from Middle- 
town, in Connecticut, to Sedaghquate, (now Whitesborough), 
which till then had been the gloomy abode of wild beasts and 
ravage men. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 421 

4< Judge White was the first who dared to overieap the Ger- 
man settlements on the Mohawk, and to encounter the hard- 
ships, privations, and dangers of the we.-.tern wilds. 

«' During the first four years alter his establishment at Se- 
daghquate, the progress of settlements around was slow and 
discouraging. In 1788, the town ot Germanflats was divided, 
and a new town established, which, in honour of this enterpris* 
ing man, was named Whitestown. 

♦' Whitestown then contained less than two hundred inhabi- 
tants ; and included all that part of the state of New-York 
which now consists of the counties of Oneida, Lewis, Jefferson, 
St. Lawrence, Mndison, Chenango, tJroome, Tioga, Cortlandt, 
Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Ontario, Steuben, Alleghany, 
Genesee, Niagara, Catarangus, and Chatauque, which counties, 
, according to the census of 1810, now contain two hundred and 
eighty thousand three hundred and nineteen inhabitants. 

«* This astonishing and unparalleled progress of settlements 
has not been effected by colonies sent out and supported by the 
power and wealth of government. The whole has been ac- 
complished by the voluntary efforts of individual enterprise and 

industry. 

" This wonderful transition by which, In the space of twenty- 
eight years, tliis immense wilderness has been converted into 
fruitful fields, seems like the illusions of a dream even to those 
who have witnessed its progress. 

«' The native forests have given place to villages, seminaries 
of learning, and temples for christian worship ; and the arts and 
refinements of civilized society have rapidly succeeded the foot- 
steps of the wandering sav^ige.'" — See articlt, Whitestown Gaz, 
p 327. 

In the years 1785-6-7 and 8, a number of families removed 
from New-England to Saughdaghquada. In the latter year, 
the town of Whitestown was erected, being set off from Ger- 
manflats. At the time of its erection, the number of inhabitants 
fell short of two hundred. The progress of settlements made 
in the woods is always tardy in their infancy. This was the 
case with Whitestown. The population above spoken of was 



422 HISTORY OF THE 

not confined to the present town, but was thinly scattered over 
several of the adjacent towns. Some dwelt on and near the 
banks of the Sauquait, and others on those of the Oriskinny, 
and intermediate. In 1788, Mr. Moses Foot, with nine or ten 
families, settled at and near where the present village of Clinton, 
hi the town of Paris, stands. 

During the years 1788-9 and 1790, several hundred families 
emigrated into the then town of Whitestown, and greatly en- 
larged the settlements already made. In 1789, there was a 
n-reat scarcity of provisions in the state, occasioned in part by 
the crops not coming in plentiful in the preceding year, and, 
in part, by the large bodies of emigrants. The infant settle- 
ment of Whitestown was much straitened, but was relieved 
by Mr. Isaac Paris, then a merchant, at Fort Plain, in the 
county of Montgomery. This gentleman made considerable 
purchases at Albany of Virginia corn, which he sold to the 
new settlers, who in general were poor, on a liberal credit. 
The inhabitants, soon afterwards, on the erection o( the town 
of Paris, named it in honour of their benefactor. Hence the 
origin of the name of Paris in Oneida county. 

The first white family that settled in the county of Onondaga, 
was that of Mr. Webster, lately interpreter for the Onondagas. 
This was in the year 178G. In 1788, Mr. Webster, after using 
much argument, prevailed on the Onondagas to permit Messrs, 
Asa Danforth, and Comfort Tyler, with their families, to settle 
at Onondaga Hollow. Such was the feeble beginning of the 
settlement of the county of Onondaga, a county which now 
(1829) contains a population of fifty thousand souls. 

In the year 1784 or 1785, Messrs. Horatio Jones and Law- 
rence Smith seated themselves at Seneca Falls, on Seneca out- 
let, in what is now called the county of Seneca ; and in the year 
1787, Mr. James Bennet took up his abode at West Cayuga, 
in the same county. In the latter year, a Mr. James Lawrence 
settled at East Cayuga, in the county of Cayuga. The former 
hamlet is on the west side of Cayuga lake, and the latter on the 
east side, where Cayuga bridge crosses the lake. This bridge 
is one mile and eight rods- long. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 423 

Cooperstown, in the county of Otsego, was founded in 1789, 
by tlie late Judge Cooper. Oxford, in the county of Chenango, 
was founded about the same time. In the year 1790, a few fa* 
niilies seated themselves at Owego, in the county of Tioga. 

In the spring of the year 1788, Mr. Oliver Phelps, of the 
town of Gorham, in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, started 
with a number of men on an expedition to the country of Ge- 
nesee, which he and Mr. Gorham had recently purchased of the 
government of Massachusetts. On his way, he passed through 
the Mohawk country as far as where the village of Rome, in the 
county of Oneida, stands ; and thence he proceeded by water, 
following the courses of Wood Creek, Oneida Lake and River, 
Seneca River, and Canandaigua outlet, almost to the place where 
the village of Canandaigua has since been built. The boats 
which he employed set out from Schenectady. There were, at 
that time, two principal portages, or carrying-places, the one at 
Little Falls, on the Mohawk, and the other at Rome, between 
the Mohawk and Wood Creek. 

Mr. Phelps, on reaching Canandaigua, set himself about 
constructing huts, to protect himself and his companions from 
the inclemency of the weather. In the mean time, he despatched 
messengers to the chiefs and head warriors of the Senecas, or 
Chitowoneaughgas, to invite them to a conference at his new 
residence in their country. The Rev. Samuel Kirkland ac- 
companied Mr. Phelps, and acted as an interpreter. Early in 
July, the chiefs and warriors of the Senecas met him, pursuant 
to the invitation. The objects which Mr. Phelps had in view, 
hy calling this meeting, were to conclude an alliance, and pro- 
cure cessions of their lands by purchase. The Senecas, by their 
chiefs and head warriors, very readily closed with his proflers. 
They formed an alliance, and sold him two millions two hun- 
dred and fifty thousand acres of land. In the succeeding year, 
they disposed of sundry large tracts of land to Mr. Phelps. The 
amount paid to the Senecas was very inconsiderable, being little 
beyond nominal. 

In the years 1738-9 and 1790, Mr. Phelps caused these land^ 



424 HISTORY OF THE' 

to be sttrveyed Into ranges, townships and lots-. Vei^' soon 
after he made his purchases, he established a land-office at 
Canandaigua. 

Geneva, which is in the Massachusetts grant, was founded in 
1789. During the same year, several other small settlements 
were established in the counties of Ontario and Wayne. 

In the year 1790, a number of families took up their re- 
sidence at Pittsford, Perrinton, and Scotsville, in the county of 
^lonroe. The Messrs. William and James Wadsworth, two 
brothers, in the same year founded Gtneseo, in the county of 
Livingston. Brighton, in Monroe county, was settled in 1791. 

In January, 1789, the county of Ontario was erected* It com- 
prised the whole purchase of Messrs. Phelps and Gorham, and 
Is now subdivided into twelve counties, exclusive of the westerly 
part of the county of Wayne. The population of the new 
county of Ontario, in the year 1790, amounted to one thousand 
and seventy-fiva souls, without including the Senecas and others 
belonging to the aborigines. 

A party of emigrants, in the year 1790 or 1791, made a 
road through the woods from the settlements of Whitestown 
to Canandaigua. This road passed through the counties of 
Madison, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca, and thence to the 
latter village. Its course lay through the Oneida Castle, Can- 
asaraga, Onondaga Hollow, Marcellus, Skaneatelis, Auburn, 
East and West Cayuga, Seneca Falls and Geneva. Such 
was the commencement and course of the first road ever opened 
between the Mohawk river and the issue of Canandaigua Lake. 
Great were the hardships which this little band ot pioneers 
suffered. Apart from the woods, the country was intersected 
by many swamps, ravines and streams. In some instances the 
swamps could not be passed with loa'ded carriages, before 
wooden causeways were constructed, and the streams before 
bridges were built. Great difficulties occurred in carrying the 
road across some of the ravines, especially at Chitteningo, 
Butternut, Onondaga and Otisco creeks. The hills accompa- 
nying these streams are long and steep, and in some places 



STATE OP NEW-YORK. 4215 

jrcfcky. But the emigrants persevered, obviated all obstacles, 
and at lengtli reached the new town of Canandaigua. The 
ensuing winter after the construction of the road, considerable 
numbers of emigrants repaired from New-England to Ontario. 
Small settlements were formed at several places on this road, 
and some houses of public entertainment opened. 

Onondaga, in the year 1794, was erected into a county. Its ex- 
tent was iiiuch greater then than that of the present county. The 
emigrants by this time had become firmly established. They 
raised wheat, corn, and other things in sufficient abundance, not 
only to supply all their own immediate wants, but to subsist 
the numerous emigrants, who were annually coming in. The 
numbers of emigrants, who repaired to the western country, 
between 1785 and 1800, surpassed any thing of the kind hither- 
to known in the United States. To give the reader an idea, 
we will state the returns of the census of the western country 
taken in ISOO. The population of the then county o^ Oneida, 
was twenty two thousand and forty-seven ; that of Chenango, 
fifteen thousand six hundred and sixty-six; that ot Tioga, 
six thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine ; that of Onon- 
daga, seven thousand four hundred and six; that of Cayuga, 
fifteen thousand eight hundred and se'-^iy-one ; that of Ontario, 
fiiU-en thousand two hundred an'?^»ghty-one : =»^d that of Steuben, 
seventeen hundred and ^'ghty-eight. ^e have not included 
O.sego, because it -as settled K'ore the revolution, but its 
population was ^ery incons'-^rable, and probably did not run 
over one hu-^red famil^"*- The grand aggregate of the po- 
pulatio*- of the we-^^n country was then eighty-four thousand 

■ffjit hundred <*"d seventy-five souls. The annual emigration, 
averagiP6 **^^ whole period from the time that Judge White 
cpttJit^d at Whitesiown, which is considered the commencement 
of the settling the western country, to the year one thousand 
eight hundred, is about one thousand families. The emigra- 
tions which were made between 1785 and 1791, were inconsider« 
able when compared with those made between the latter period 
and the year 1 800. The population ot tht^ county of Ontario in 
1790, vas only one thousand and seventy-five souls ; but in 1800 
VQU III. 54 



426 HISTORY OF THE 

it was fifteen thousand two hundred and eighteen. The first 
beginnings of settlemenis in countries overspread with woods 
are very slow, and do not progress rapidly till a lapse of some 
years. This remark has been exemplified in all the settlements 
made in the United States. At first, the emigrants have to draw 
their subsistence from a distance. The early settlers of the 
western country had to draw theirs from the Mohawk country. — 
The latter country was thinly settled. West of the Little Falls, on 
the river Mohawk, tbere were only a few families without the 
valley, and these were not in a condition to furnish many emi- 
grants with provisions, their farms being much neglected in 
consequence of the calamities of the war. We have already 
remarked, that the Mohawk country was nearly desolated by 
the tories and Indians, in their several inroads. The inha- 
bitants, who had been so fortunate as to escape the tommahawk, 
had butjustrebuiltlheir habitations, and were beginnmg to enjoy 
the sweets of repose. Again, roads had to be opened through 
tlie woods to all the settlements, and by individuals. The go- 
vernixient did nothing. Every thing depended upon individual 
exertion and enterprise. If a road was wanting or a bridge to 
be made, and all the^c -vere wanting, individuals had to make 
thera. Aftor the pioneers \^^ constructed a road through 
the woods from Whit^stown to Car^ndaigua, the emigrations 
became more considerab'i^, and increaioj with the improve- 
ments made from year to year ^ri that road,,nd the settlements 
formed on and near to it. The wn^er was the reason usually 
chosen for removing from New-Eaglancto the westu-n country. 
Then, as the country was shaded by forest trees, thfe.« vvas 
commonly enough of snow for sleighing. 

In the year 1796, the British yielded up theforts Oswi^atchie 
Oswego, Niagara, and Schlosser, which they had held to \hat 
time, although in contravention to the terms of the peace con- 
cluded with the United States, at Paris, in 1783. Immediately 
after the evacuation of these posts, settlements were begun at 
Oswego and Owegatchie. 

In the years 1797 and 1798, settlements were commenced at 
Lowville, Watertown and Brownville; in the counties of Lewis 



STATE or NFAV-YORIi- 427 

and Jeilei'son. The counties of Lewis. Jefferson and St. Law- 
rence were then inchided in the county of Herkimer. 

As llie emigrants flowed into the \testern country like a torrent, 
the settlements were extended on all sides. New roads were 
opened, and new settlements formed. The road leading from 
the Mohawk to Canandaigua was prolonged, first to the river 
Genesee, then to Tonawanta Creek, and lastly to Buffalo, near 
the outlet of Lake Erie. The settlements along the great road 
leading from the town of Utica to Genesee river, were mostly 
connected, by the year 1800. Several villages and many ham- 
lets had sprung up, and not a few of the settlers had acquired a 
degree of affluence. In 1800 the western country began to 
attain consequence in the councils of the state. 

But the emigrations during the same period were not confin- 
ed to the western country. Crowds flocked yearly into the 
counties situated in the basins of the Hudson and Delaware, 
more particularly, however, to those lying in the basin of the 
former river. The counties of Columbia, Rensselaer and Wash- 
ington, on the east side of the Hudson and Green, Albany, Sara- 
toga, Montgomery, Herkimer and Schoharie, on the west side 
of that river and on the Mohawk, may be specially instanced. 
To these might be added Otsego, which is mostly in the basin 
of the Susquehannah. 

The reader, by looking at our view of the progressive popu- 
lation of the state, in volume second, pages 58 and 59, may 
form an idea of the numbers who migrated. The cities of 
Hudson and Troy, and the villages of Catskill, Lansingburgh 
and VVaterford were founded in the same period, that is, be- 
tween 1784 and 1800. Other villages of mmor importance 
might be enumerated. The ch^o. ot New-York, Aibany and 
Schenectady were t^n^farged. The population of the two former 
was more tb««» doubled. 

The peopling of the state since the revolution, although un- 
exampled iu the annals of colonization, has nevertheless been 
slowei* than it otherwise would have been, had not the state go- 
vernment thrown obstacles in the way. It has been noticed, 
that all the settlements were commen:ced and made by individu- 



42S HISTORY 6f 'Ill£ 

als without any assistance from government. In generat, the 
settlers had to purchase the lands at extravagant prices ironi 
large land-jobbers, and being for the most part poor, laboured 
under great discouragements. The original disposition of the 
public lands, and their falling into the hands of particular in- 
dividuals, who seldom or never settled on them, are so extraor- 
dinary that we should do injustice to the public, were we to pass 
them over in silence. We shall, therefore, give the leading facts, 
leaving the full investigation to some individual possessing 
more leisure and means than we do. 

On the fifth of May, 1786, the legislature of the state of New- 
York, passed an act for the speedy sale of the unappropriated 
lands within the state, and for other purposes therein mentioned. 
The reader will remember, that this is the title of the act. The 
ostensible object, however, was to sell the public lands in large 
parcels to particular individuals, to the end that they might sell 
them at large profits to actual settlers. At the time this famous 
act was passed, upwards of two-thirds of the lands in the state 
were unappropriated, that is, they belonged to the state. The 
residue, comprising nearly one-third of the state, was in the 
hands of actual settlers, landholders and patentees, mostly, how- 
ever, in the hands of the two latter descriptions of men. 

The Dutch founded New-York and Albany in the year 
1614, and continued in possession of the country for about fifty 
years thereafter. The English dispossessed them in 1664 and 
held the coantry, if we except about one year from that time,*to 
1775. The whole time that the Dutch and English were mas- 
ters of the io«i£itpy, comprehends a period of one hundred and 
sixt3»one years, still, iio-j.7«.ver, not one-third of the lands of the 
state were disposed of during that period. We have not men- 
tioned the time which the Dutch and English, held the country, 
and the probable extent of the grants made by ih«. colonial 
governors, to show that impolitic and extravagant grants were 
not made, because facts would disprove it. Loud complaints 
were made at times, and censures bestowed on account of large 
grants made by some of the colonial governors to their favoyr- 
ites, to the deirimeat of the province. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 429 

Smith, the historian, who wrote nearly one hundred years 
ago, remarks, " Many have been the discouragements to the 
settlement of this colony (New-York). The French and Indian 
irruptiont, to which we have always been exposed, have driven 
many families into New-Jersey. The British acts for the 
transportation of felons, have brought all the American colonies 
into discredit with the industrious and honest poor, bo(h in the 
kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland. The bigotry and ty- 
ranny of some of our governors, together with the grt-at extent 
of their grants, may also be considered among the discourage- 
ments against the full settlement of the province (New-York). 
Most of these gentlemen, coming over with no other view than 
to raise their own fortunes, issued extravagant patents, charged 
with small quit-rents, to such as were able to serve them in the 
Assembly; and these patentees, being generally men of estates, 
have rated their lands so exorbitantly high, that very few poor 
persons could either purchase or lease them." Such were the 
complaints spoken of by Mr. Smith, in his time ; and those in 
relation to the lands granted were the most serious, and mjinly 
impeded the rapid settlement of the state. 

In New-England and Pennsylvania, the wild lands were 
either granted or sold to actual settlers. This led to the rapid 
population of those countries, although neither can boast of such 
extensive tracts of rich land, and such a noble river as tht' Hud- 
sou. The former, in the year 1784, had a population five times 
as great as that of New-York, and the latter twice, although 
not settled in reality before the year 1682. 

Most of the grants complained of by Mr. Smith werp made 
prior to the year 1698. Under the administrajion of Colonel 
Fletcher sundry extravagant grants were had. These were of 
such extent as to threaten the destruction of the colony. Tracts, 
embracing enough of territory for a large county, were incon- 
siderately made to individuals, on which the rent reserved for 
the crown did not exceed four or five beaver skins per annum. 
On the arrival of Lord Bellamont, the successor of Colonel 
Fletcher, representations were made to him in respect to these 
grants, and their pernicious tendency. His lordship, after 



430 HISTORY OF THE 

taking them into consideration, recommended their repeal. 
Accordingly the Assembly, in the year 1699, enacted a law, 
vacating the grants made by Fletcher. The same law pro- 
vided that no grant or grants should thereafter be made, unless 
to actual settlers. In the recommendation, his lordship stated, 
among other reasons, that extravagant grants impeded settle- 
ments, and were subversive of the best interests of the colony. 
Anterior to the passage of this law, the gavernors could make 
such grants as they pleased. But an evasion of this law was 
attended with much difficulty, and no small expense. Sir Wil- 
liam Johnson, and souie others who evaded it, were under a 
necessity of getting cultivators to petition the governor and 
council for grants on which the petitioners proposed settling. 
Letters patent were granted to the petitioners in the first place. 
In these all the petitioners were named, but the deed was made 
out to one or more, and he or they were bound to release to 
the others. Hence, before large tracts of land could come into 
the hands of certain individuals, letters patent had to be granted, 
and deeds of release made out, and then conveyances from th« 
several applicants. But, as such grants were contrary to the 
tenor and meaning of the law, being an evasion, and liable to 
be cancelled, few attempted to evade it. 

On the adoption of the constitution, in the year 1777, and 
the organization of the state government, this wise law, the 
enactment of which had been upon the recommendation of Lord 
Bellamont, was abrogated, and the door thrown open to certain 
governmental agents and their friends. 

We have already remarked, that the law under which the 
unappropriated lands were frittered away, was made on the 
fifth of May, 1786. In about eight years after the passage of 
this law, nearly twenty millions of acres of lands were sold, 
ceded and disposed of, which belonged to the people of this 
state, and for sums which were barely nominal. We shall state 
such parts of the law, as have application to the sales, for it is 
not, we believe, in the latter editions of the revised laws. 

The law, that authorized the sale of the public lands, created 
a board of commissioners, which consisted of U^e governor, 



STATE OF NEW-YORk> 431 

lieutenant-governor, the speaker of the assembly, the secretary 
of the state, the attorney-general, treasurer and auditor. It 
established an office, called the land-office. The commission- 
ers were to direct the disposing and granting of the unappro- 
priated lands, according to such powers and directions, as 
should, from time to time, be prescribed by the legislature. 
Any three of the commissioners, provided the governor was 
one, were to constitute a board for the transaction of business. 
Such is the outline of the provision of the first section of the 
act. 

The second section, however, of the same act, made it law- 
ftil for the commissioners, from time to time, to direct the sur- 
veyor-general to cause surveys of such of the unappropriated 
lands, as they might deem proper for sale, to be made. 

By the first section, the commissioners were to sell according 
to such powers and directions, as the legislature should from 
time to time give to them. By the second section of the same 
act, the commissioners might, without orders or directions from 
the legislature, sell when they chose, as they thought proper, 
and any number of acres, with this remarkable limitation, that 
they should not sell for less than one shilling per acre. The 
unsuspecting reader might have supposed that this board was 
under the direction of the legislature. No such thing. The 
members were under no restraint whatever, they might cut and 
carve. 

But we will go on, and state the farther prominent provisions-. 
The act provided, that when the lands were laid off into lots, 
pursuant to the direction of the commissioners, that they should 
be advertised in three newspapers, for not more than forty 
days nor less than thirty, and then sold at vendue to the highest 
bidder. The commissioners, as there was no restraining clause 
'in regard to the number of acres to be put up, might sell in 
large or small parcels, as best suited their interest, if they had 
any, convenience or caprice. But be this as it may, the unap» 
propriated lands were in general sold in townships, half-town- 
ships, and quarter-townships. A township contained one hun- 
dred square miles, or sixty-four thonsand acreg, enough of 



432 HISTORY OF THE 

land for three hundred and twenty farms of two hundred acres 
each. The lands usually being put up m large parcels, very 
few actual settlers were able to buy ; hence, nearly the whole 
so sold by the commissioners, passed into the hands of a few 
weahhy individuals, and their friends and connexions. Such 
is the manner in which the public lands were sold. In this 
way, a few persons became possessed in a short time, of the 
greater part of the state. This is the occasion of such ^arge 
tracts of land in various parts of the state, being vacant at this 
day. This has retarded in no small degree the settlement of 
the state. In general, the proprietors of the wild lands hold 
them so high, that enterprising emigrants, and even our own 
citizens, cannot, unless they have considerable money, pur- 
chase them. These people, therefore, in general, pass through 
the state, or leave it and go to Ohio, Michigan, or Upper Ca- 
nada, where lands can be obtained on moderate terms. Tens 
of thousands have seated themselves in those countries, that 
would have seated themselves in this state, could they have 
done it on terms as advantageous to themselves. These would 
have increased our population, and added to the wealth and 
consideration of the state. The strength of states consists in 
the number of their inhabitants, their improvements and wealth, 
and not in a thin population and vast forests. But cupidity 
rarely looks beyond its own interest. The flourishing state of 
Vermont was lost to this state, in consequence of the cupidity 
and obstinacy of a few persons. 

As to the facts in relation to the dispute between this state and Vermonf, 
the reader is referred to the journals of Congress and the legislature of this 
State, and to Williams' History of Vermont. ^ 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 433 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Religion — Literary institutions — Schools — Origin of the go- 
vernmeni of the United States — Adoption of the constitution 
— Rise of parties — Governmeni of the state — List of gover- 
nors, 8iC. 

Religion. — The constitution of this state, as well as that of 
the United States, allows the free exercise of religion to all 
denominations. The following comprise the different denomi- 
nations, which are in the state, so far as we are acquainted ; to 
wit : Presbyterians, Dutch Reformed, Seceders, Congregation- 
alists, Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists, Quakers, 
Universalists, Roman Catholics, Moravians, Unitarians, Sha- 
kers, Jews and Deists. There are, perhaps, some other de- 
nominations, but if there are, their numbers are very small. 

The ministers, or public teachers, of the several denomina- 
tions, are paid by voluntary contributions, the amount depend- 
ing on the wealth and liberality of the contributors. The 
clergy, in general, are, we believe, but moderately compensat- 
ed. Ministers of the gospel are excluded from holding offices. 
Most of our literary institutions are under the superintendence 
of the clergy. 

Churches, and places of public worship> are not commensu- 
rate with the population of the state This is occasioned by 
the sudden growth of the country. In the old settlements the 
numbers, with few exceptions, are perhaps correspondent with 
the numuer of tiie inhabitants. 

Literature. — There are seven colleges in this staw, to wit : 
Columbia College, in the city of New- York ; I'^nion College, 
at the city of Schenectady ; Hamilton ColK^, in the town of 
Kirkland, in the county of Oneida ; &" V\ estern College, at 
Geneva, in the county of Ontario r '^'e College ol Physicians and 
Surgeons at Fairfield, in <^ie county of Herkimer ; aad the 

VOL. III. 55 



434 HISTORY- OF THE 

College of Physicians and Surgeons in the city of New- 
■York ; and Rutger's College, in the same city. 

Columbia CoDege, originally called King's College, was 
founded in the year 1754., and is the oldest institution of the 
kind in the state. It has a president, five professors, and about 
one hundred and twenty students. 

Union College, which was incorporated in the year 1794, 
has about one hundred and fifty students. There is a presi- 
dent and four professors. The situation of this flourishing 
seminary is both healthy and beautiful. 

Hamilton College is about eight miles southwesterly of 
Utica. The buildings stand on a commanding eminence, a 
litth westwardly of Oriskinny Creek, and are extensive and 
commodious. This institution was founded in 1812. The 
students have heretofore amounted to from ninety to one 
hundred. It has a president and three professors. We are 
unable to say how many students attend at this time. Local 
differences, which is not our province to mention, but which 
. too often injure public institutions among us, have nearly bro- 
ken up ihis seminary. Hamilton College is situated in a fertile 
part of the state. ^ 

The Western College was incorporated in the year 182.5. 
It stands on the eminence, on which the flourishing village of 
Geneva is built. 

The courses of studies pursued at these institutions are, the 
languages, geography, logic, natural philosophy, mathematics, 
chemistry, &c. 

The Medical College of Physicians and Surgeons of the 
city of New-York, was incorporated in 1806, and modified in 
1813. It has a president and five professors, and about one 
hundred s'udents. Anatomy, surgery, materia medica, physi- 
ology, ol/>4etrics, chemistry, natural history, Sic, are taught 
in it. 

Rutgers' Colle^^^ in the same city, is also a medical institu- 
tion. The same brat^^hes are taught in it. It has the same 
number o^ professors, and aVKs„t a like number of students. 
The College of Physicians ana iiurgeons at Fairfield, in the 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 435 

county of Herkimer, has the same number of professors as the 
preceding, and about two liundred students. 

Since the establishment of these seminaries, medicine, surgery, 
k,c., have been successfully cultivated; and the profe&sioa of a 
physician and surgeon is becoming respectable. 

Academies. — These amount to about thirty-six ; and are lo- 
cated at Albany, Fairfield, Utica, Paris, Auburn, Cayuga, 
Cortlandt, Geneva, Canandaigua, Onondaga, Pompey, Low- 
ville, St. Lawrence, Johnstown, Schenectady, Grenville, Balls- 
ton, Lansingburgh, Troy, Cherry Valley, Hartwick, Hudson, 
Middlebury, Cambridge, Montgomery, Newburgh, Catskill, 
Poughkeepsie, North Salem, Flatbush, New-York, he- 

The whole numbp.- i^f ct„A , • — v^iUing to the official re- 
turns, exceeds four thousand ; but the reader, if he desires to 
preserve the proper meaning to words, must needs make very 
large deductions, since many are returned as students who nei- 
ther know nor understand any thing beyond reading, some 
writing and arithmetic. The objects in view for making such 
extravagant returns, are, we understand, to make a parade, and 
then draw more money from the state than ought to be drawn. 

This, however, the regents might easily prevent, were they 
inclined. In making these remarks, we would not be under- 
stood as applying them to all the academic institutions, since 
some are flourishing and highly creditable to the state. The 
Albany and Fairfield academies might be instanced. 

Schools — We are unable to state with cp-<«'""ty the number 
of common schools in the state. '" ^^23, according to Dr. H. . 
G. Spafford's Gazettee- -•'^ re were 7,382. The present num- 
ber must co'-"'^erably exceed this. The number of children 
ht.t,Tcenthe ages of five and fifteen, that attended these schools, 
was 373,008. 

Under the school system, every town in the state is divided 
into districts, in each of which there is a school-house. In the 
year 1823, about eighty thousand dollars, growing out of the 
school fund, was distributed among the several counties, accord- 
ing to the population, and then distributed among the separate 
school districts. The sum now distributed exceeds in amount 
the foregoing. 



436 HISTORY OF THE 

The school sj'Stem, were it corrected, in certain respects 
would prove mu.h more useful. 

Formation of the Federal Government. — The American peo- 
ple formed themselves into a body politic, while they were co- 
lonies of Great Britain. We shall state, briefly, the steps which 
were taken from time to time, in order to bring it to that im- 
proved condition, in which it is at present. In the month of 
October, 1765, a Congress composed of delegates irom nine of 
the British colonies convened at the city of New- York. The 
first measure that they adopted after being organized, was a 
declaration of rights and grievances. In the declaration they 
stated, among other things, that the inhabitants of the 
colonies were entitiea n. ..u *u„ ~^.^^l,t^ nrivilperes and immuni- 
ties of natural subjects, within the kingdom of Great Britain, 
and that they had the exclusive power of taxing themselves. 
This Congress, after having mad6 arrangements for another 
meeting, should exigencies require it, adjourned. 

On the fourth of September, 1774, the second Congress con- 
vened at Philadelphia. Deputies from eleven of the colonies 
attended. They chose a president, and proceeded to business. 
Committees were appointed to state the rights claimed by the 
colonies, which had been invaded by the British Parliament, 
prepare a petition to the King and addresses to the people of 
Great Britain. Congress, at this meeting, among other things, 
passed a resolve, declaratory of rights, and then adjourned. 
Previous to tlid* ^diournment, they recommended that another 
Congress should convene ^^ thg tenth of JVIay, 1775. 

In the meantime, the proceedings v..,i j^y j^jg Congress were 
laid before the American people for their consni^„qjiQ,^^ 

In May, 1775, the third Congress assembled, pursuavx* to 
the foregoing recommendation, and commenced the organiza- 
tion of a government. They organized the higher departments 
of the army, emitted bills of credit, framed articles of war, and 
published a manifesto. These measures were in accordance 
with tbe wishes of the people. The Congress, in addition, re- 
commended to the several colonies to constitute governments, 
and take such other steps as would conduce to their safety and 
welfare. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 437 

On the fourth of July, 1776 Congress published the decla- 
ration of independence. From this time they assumed all the 
powers of sovereignty. They managed every thing in relation 
to tlie internal ami external concerns of the nation. Articles 
of confederation had been made as early as the eleventh of 
June, in the preceding month. These were preparatory to the 
declaration of independence. The states, in their individual 
character, ratified the articles of confederation and other acts 
done by Congress. But the powers of Congress, after all, 
amounted to little more than recommendations. In the articles 
of confederation, there was no provision which enabled it to 
add a sanction to its laws. The states might ratify them or 
not, this being optional with tlieni. This was a great defect 
in these articles. One state would comply and another not. 
Delinquencies in one state occasioned delinquencies in an- 
other. Tiie army on which the safety of the country depended, 
was imperfectly supplied and paid. Ncitional engagements 
were not fulfilled, and public confidence was lost. Congress 
endeavoured to obtain from the several states, the right of lay- 
ing on a general tax, for the maintenance of the army, the 
payment of the debts, and the restoration of public credit. 
But this was found impracticable. The states declined to unite 
in a measure which tended so much to their general safety. The 
finances of the nation became more and nore deranged, and 
every thing conspired to destroy the confederation. After 
the peace with Great Britain, each state in its turn, withdrew 
its support, till the union was on the verge of dissolution. Each 
state was a distinct sovereignty. Great diversity of sentiment 
prevailed, in regard to the manner in which the afl'airs of the 
confederacy ought to be conducted. The people of the Ameri- 
can confederation wigre divided into two parties- The one 
contemplated the Americans as a nation, and s-trovo to clothe 
Congress with powers which would preserve thf Union. The 
other looked on Congress with jealousy, and laboured to restrict 
its powers. 

The one contended for the observance of public and private 
engagements, and was friendly to a regular administration of 



438 HISTORY OF THE 

justice, and of a course of taxation that would enable the 
Union to fulfil its engagements. It was (riendly to an enlarge- 
ment of the federal government, and to the enabling it to 
protect the dignity and character of the nation abroad, and its 
interests at home. 1 he other party viewed with tenderness the 
case of the debtor. To exact a compliance with contracts was 
thought harsh. It was in favour ol relaxing the administration 
of justice. It resisted every attempt to transfer, from its own 
hands into those of Congress, those powers which were essen- 
tial to the wellare and preservation of the Union. 

These parties were nearly balanced. The advocates of the 
former endeavoured to impress the people with the importance of 
taking measures to prevent a total dissolution of the confed- 
eracy, and of adopting a stable form of government for the 
whole. To this end, it was recommended that a convention of 
delegates from the several states should convene at Annapolis, 
in Maryland. A meeting was held pursuant to the recommen- 
dation, in the month of September, in the year 1787, but it was 
only attended by commissioners from New- York, New-Jersey, 
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. The con- 
vention chose a chairman, and proceeded to discuss the objects 
for which they had convened. "As the delegates were not 
clothed with ample powers, and as a majority of the states 
were not convened, they came to a determination to adjourn. — 
Previous to their adjournment, however, they agreed on a 
report to be made to their respective states, in which was repre- 
sented the necessity of extending the revision of the federal 
system to all its defects, and in which they recommended that 
deputies for that purpose be appointed by the several legisla- 
tures, to meet in convention, in the city of Philadelphia, on the 
second day of May, 17S8. In the meantime. Congress passed 
a resolution advising the same course. This had considerable 
influence. The legislature of the state of New- York, instruct- 
ed its delegation in Congress, to move the resolution -in that 
body, recommending to the several states to appoint depuiits to 
meet in convention, for proposing amendments to the constitu- 
iton. In the senate of New-York there was a majority of only 



STATE ©F NEW-YORK. 439 

one vote. The then governor, ^nd several of the leading men, 
were opposed to such a measure, and did every thing in their 
power to defeat it. They foresaw that the establishment of a 
federal government would abridge their power. They did not 
take into due consideration the good of the whole. All the 
evils which they predicted, have, however, proved fallacious. 

At the time and place appointed, the representatives of twelve 
states convened. Rhode Island was the only state not repre* 
seated. In that state, a spirit hostile to reform reigned predo- 
minant. Washington was chosen president of the convention. 
On the seventeenth day of September, the members agreed 
upon a constitution for the United States. 

A resolution of the convention directed, that the constitution, 
30 agreed upon, should be laid before the United States in Con- 
gress assembled, and declai-ed the opinion, that it should after" 
wards be submitted to a convention of delegates, chosen in each 
state by the people, under the recommendation of its legislature, 
for their assent and ratification. It was also recommended, that 
as soon as the conventions of nine states should ratify the con- 
stitution, it should be carried into operation by the United 
States in Congress assembled. By the order of the convention, 
the instrument, with the resolutions, was transmitted to Congress. 

Immediately after the convention rose, measures were resorted 
to, to take the sense of the people in relation to the propriety of 
the adoption of the constitution. The friends and the opposers 
of the constitution formed themselves into two parties. The 
former were called Constitutionalists, and the latter Unconstitu- 
tionalists. Hitherto, no great parties, extending over all the 
states, had existed. Both, during the interval between its publi- 
cation and adoption, exerted their utmost endeavours, for or 
against it. The presses teemed with productions in favour and 
against it. A series of essays appeared in the New-York papers 
in favour of it. These were the productions of Colonel Alex. 
Hamilton, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Madison. They are now known 
by the name of the Federalist. 

The convention of eleven states at length consented to, and 
ratified the constitution. The parties were called Federalists 



440 HISTORY OF THE 

and Anti-federalists. The fedei-alists were in favour of the con- 
stitution, and the anti-federalists opposed to it. The former 
were the friends of the union of the states, and the latter the 
enemies. The general government of the United States was or- 
ganized under the constitution, immediately after its ratification, 
by a majority of the people of tire United States, and Washing- 
ton was chosen president. The adoption of the constitution 
and federal government, gave weight and consideration to the 
United States. Such is an outline of the United States' govern- 
ment, and the origin of parties. 

Government, — This consists of three branches : the Executive, 
the Legislative, and the Judicial. 

The Executive consists of a governor. In case of his death 
or impeachment, the lieutenant-governor is vested with the exe- 
cutive power. 

The Legislative consists of a senate and assembly. 

The Judicial consists of a chancellor, the three judges of 
the supreme-court, and the senate, with its president, the lieu- 
tenant-governor. 

Of each of ihese in their order. The governor and lieutenant- 
governor are elected biennially. 

The governor is general and commander-in-chief of all the 
militia, and admiral of the navy. He is empowered to convene 
the legislature or the senate on extraordinary occasions ; grant 
reprieves and pardons after convictions, for all offences, except 
treason and impeachment. In treason, he may suspend exe<'u- 
tion, till the case be reported to the legislature, at its next 
meeting. 

The duties of the governor are mostly defined by the consti- 
tution. By this instrument, he is required to communicate by 
message to the legislature, at every session, the condition of the 
state ; and recommend such matters as he shall judge proper, 
expedite all such measures as may be resolved upon by the le- 
gislature, and see that the lasvs are faithfully executed. 

In appointments to such offices as are in the gift of the se- 
nate, the governor has the sole nomination. 



STATE OF NFW-yORK. 441 

The Senate consists of thirty-two members, chosen for four 
years. Senators are elected by districts ; the state being di- 
vided into eight districts, each of which sends four. The seats 
of one fourth are vacated every year. The seats thus vacated 
are filled by otiiers chosen annually to supply their place. 

The assembly consists of one hundred and twenty-eight 
members, who are elected annually. The members are appor- 
tioned among, and elected by, the difierent counties, unless 
the population be insufficient. 

The number of senators and assemblymen is fixed by the 
constitution. 

The legislature arc to meet annually, on the first Tuesday of 
January, unless a difilrent day be appointed by law. 

A majority of each house constitutes a quorum. Each house 
determines the rules of its own proceedings, judges of the qualifi- 
cations of its own members, and chooses its own officers. The 
senate, in the absence of the lieutenani-goveruor, may appoint 
a president pro tempore from its own members. 

The assembly choose a speaker from their own body. Each 
house keeps a journal of its proceeding?. 

Bills may originate in either house ; and all bills passed by 
one house, may be amended by the other. 

Every bill which passes both houses must, before it can be- 
come a law, be presented to the governor for his approval. If 
he, however, does not approve it; and, upon a reconsideration/ 
two thirds of the members of both houses present agree to pass 
it; it still becomes a law. ■^' 

The judiciary is subdivided into several branches ; e;^ ^^ 
which we shall notice separately. X 

First— The court for the trial of impeachments/^^ the cor- 
rection of errors. This court is composed of the 1)^^^"^"^-^°^^''- 
nor, who is ex-o^cio president of the senate,/^ senators, chan- 
cellor, and judges of the supreme-court. It/the highest tribunal 
in the state. The chancellor and judg^^^ve no voice m the af. 
firmance or reversal of causes brough up from their respective 
courts. They, however, are to inform the court of the reasons 
for the decree or judgment. In those causes which are earned 

VOL. III. 56 



442 HISTORY. OF THE. 

up from the supreme court, the chancellor may give an opintun j 
and so, in those which are removed from the court of chancery, 
the judges may give opinions seriatim. 

The court of chancery consists of a chancellor, who has ju- 
risdiction In all cases in which the common law affords no 
relief, or not an adequate one. 

His jurisdiction is either original or appellate, and extends 
to cases of accounts, frauds, infants, specific performances ot 
agreements, trusts, &c. 

The officers of this court consist of a register and assistant 
register, clerks, masters, and examiners. The two latter are 
nominated by the governor, and appointed by the senate. 

Third — The supreme court consists of a chief justice, and 
two justices. It is the supreme court of common law in the 
state. Its jurisdiction is very high and transcendent. It has 
authority over all the inferior courts, except the surrogates ; 
their opinions and judgments being subject to its revision. 
The judges of the supreme court are also empowered to hold 
circuit courts throughout the state. They appoint their own 
clerk's, criers, and reporter. The clerks and criers amount to six. 
Fourth : the circuit court consists of eight judges. Each 
judge presides over a district, the state being divided into eight 
districts. These judges severally possess the powers of a jus- 
tice of the supreme court at chambers ; and in the trial of all 
issues joined in the supreme court, or in any other court and 
brought into the supreme court ; and in the trial of cases in 
^ourts of oyer and terminer, and general jail delivery. They 
"*^' also within the limits of their respective districts, concur- 
^'^"^ J^"<;diction with the chancellor, of all matters and causes 
m equity, ^ every description and character, subject, however, 
in all cases, v jjjg appellate jurisdiction of the chancellor. 

The equity J risdiction of the circuit judges is confined to 
matters and cause, ^ithjj^ their several districts, or where the 
subject matter in Cv^troversy is situated within such dis- 
trict, &c. 

The chancellor, justice^ of the supreme court and circuit 
judges, hold tbeir offices during good behaviour, or until they 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 443 

respectively attain tlie age of sixty. The constitulloti, in this re- 
spect, has its advantages and disadvantages. A judge may, 
after he attains sixty, be better qualified than when he went on 
the bench, or he may be worse. If he possess industry he will 
be better, but if he has little or none, he will be less fitted to 
discharge the duty. On the one hand the public are losers, 
and on the other gainers. 

We are inclined to think the present organization of our 
supreme court and circuit courts, is defective ; and that the 
anticipations of some will not be realized. There are three 
judges of the supreme court, eight circuit judges, a superior 
court in the city of Ncv^-York, consisting of three judges, to 
all of which may be added the chancellor, making a total 
of fifteen. 

There are fifty five courts of common pleas. Justices of the 
peace have jurisdiction to the amount of fifty dollars. We 
barely name the latter jurisdictions, to show that they take on 
much business from the hands of the circuit judges, a« these 
latter do from the supreme court, and tha*? ^'l^r all. they do 
not dispose of the causes as fast as brought before them. 

" The Superior Court of the city of New-York, consists of 
a Chief Justice and two Associate Justices, appointed for five 
years. They have power to hear, try and determine all local 
actions, arising within the city and county of New-York, and 
all transitory actions, although the same may not have arisen 
there, and to grant new trials in cases where they think pro- 
per. 

The Superior Court is held at the City Hall on the "'^^ 
Monday of every month, and continued from day to ^>^' ^ ® 
last Saturday', ioclusive in the same mop*'i> sh^-' * 
ed expedient. Either or all of tb- judg- ™ay hold the same 
for the trial of causes and fo- non-e«umerated motions ; bat 
all cases and points, rese>ved at fxals, bills of exceptions, de- 
murrers to evidence, znotions "i arrest of judgment, and issues 
inlaw, are to be argued o. submitted in the same court, before 
a majority of the judges. 

Causes may be removed into the Supreme Court in like 



444 HISTORY OF THE 

manner, as they are from, the Circuit Courts. This Court 
was: created March 31, 1828. 

The Court of Common Pleas consists of five judges, com- 
missioned for five yearb; subject, however, to be removed 
by the senate, on the recommendation of the governor, for cau* 
ses lo be staled in such recommendation. The person first 
named in the commission, is designated first judge. The ju- 
risdiction of the t'ommon Pleas is limited to a county, and as 
there are five of these judges in every county, and as there are 
fifty-five or<Aanized counties in the state, the total number is two 
hundred and seventy-five— a legion. 

The Courts of Common Pleas, of the several counties, are 
authorised to hear and determine all actions, real, personal and 
mixed, arising within the said several counties respectively, and 
also, all transitory actions, although the same may not have arisen 
withm the said counties, respectively. New trials may also be 
granted, where one of the judges is of the degree of counsel- 
lor at law. 

The judges of the Court of Common Pleas, the cities and 
counties of New-York and Albany excepted, are also author- 
ised to hold courts of general sessions of the peace, in their 
several counties. Their jurisdiction extends to all cases, ex- 
cept treason, misprison of treason, murder, or other felony, or 
crime, which is punishable with death, or imprisonment in the 
state prison for life, or longer than life. 

In civil cases, a quorum can do business. In criminal, a 
quorum, or either of the judges aided by two justices of the 

P*''«'.e. The Court of Common Pleas have likewise appellate ju- 
risdiciiw, 

This com.. g^ badge of the colonial times, ought to be abo* 
lished. Four law ^ors, of industry, talents, an3 learning, would 
do all the business now done Vy the two hundred and seventy- 
five judges, and the justi«,s of v^ peace, who at times sit in 
judgment with them in criminal cqses, and would give much better 
satisfaction both to suitors and the p-nblic. 

The judges appoint district attorneys in their respective 
eounties. 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 4A5 

In every county there is a clerk, who is elected by the people. 
Sixth. — Justices of the peace. — The law allows four in each 
town in the state, whether the town be large or small, populous 
or not. 

The jurisdiction of justices of the peace is commensurate 
with the county in which they live. They can try and df termine 
all actions to the amount of fifty dollars, except those in which 
the title to land comes in question, and those of slander, and 
assault and battery. They are also authorised to enter judg- 
ments to the amount of two hundred and fifty dollars, and 
under. They also, in some cases, reverse their own judgments^ 
accommodating themselves to causes, circumstances, and wishes. 
Each justice constitutes a court in civil cases. Either party 
to a suit may appeal from the judgment rendered. But, as the 
appeal is to the common pleas, the remedy is oftentimes infi- 
nitely worse than the disease. The appellant, before he can 
appeal, has to give a bond in double the amount of the judg- 
ment and pay costs. In this particular the law is arbitrary and 
unjust. We say arbitrary and unjust, because it puts it in the 
power of an artfJ plaintiff to collect an unrighteous judgment 
of a defendant who is unable to procure bail. 

Justices have also jurisdiction in cases of misdemeanor, petit 
larceny, fi^c. Every man that can write his name, is eligible to 
the ofiice. The latter remark must, however, be taken with 
some qualifications; such as belonging to a party, being able to 
render services in holding up the party to which he belongs, 
and in yielding implicit obedience to the mandates of the 
leaders of the party. 

Besides the justice's court, there are special justices courts 
- in New-York, Albany, &c. The whole number of justices of 
the peace in the state, is not far from two thousand eight hun- 
dred — a mighty host. In England and Wales, where the po- 
pulation is nearly eight times as great as ours, there are about 
fifteen hundred acting magistrates. They ought to have about 
twenty thousand, but the people, perhaps, have formerly had 
experience of the evil arising from so many magistrates, and 
too much law; or little, or no law. Our justices of the peace 



446' HISTORY OF THE 

usually determine all ca; ses brought before them, according to 
equity, by presuming aisd intending. But after all, equity does 
not consist in presuming and intending, but on facts and known 
principles. 

Eighth. — Mayor's courts — These are confined to the cities 
of New-York, Hudson, Albany, Troy, and Schenectady. The 
mayor, recorder and aldermen in each city form a court. 

Ninth —Surrogate's Court — There is one surrogate in each 
county, who holds courts in certain cases. His jurisdiction ex- 
tends to the proving of wills, granting letters testamentary, 
and appointing administrators, guardians, &.c. ; and generally 
speaking, to all matters and things relating to the settlement of 
the estates of testates and intestates. An appeal lies from 
this court to the court of chancery. 

Sheriffs and Sheriff's Courts.— In every county there is a 
sheriff, who is elected triennially. The sheriff is a judicial, as 
well as a ministerial officer. He holds inquests in civil cases, 
where the defendant makes default, and where the damages are 
not liquidated 

Coroners are elected tricnnially. Tliere are four in each 
county. They take inquests in cases of. accidental deaths or 
otherwise, 8ic. 

Constables. — These are elected yearly in the several towns. 
The electors determine the number. 

Town officers. — These consist of one supervisor, and one 
town clerk in every town. Besides these there are assessors, &c. 

There are several officers of state, such as the secretary, comp- 
troller, treasurer, surveyor-general, attorney-general, adjutant- 
general, commissary-general, he. 

A list of the Governors^ Lieutenant Governors and Presidents, 
who administered the government of the Colony and State 
of New-YorJc, from June 1629, to the present time. 

Dutch Governors. 

Wouter Van T wilier, . from . 1629 to 1638 
William Kieft . . do. . 1638 - 1G47 



STATE OF JNEW-YORK. 



447 



Peter Stuyvcsant, . . from . 1647 - 16G4 

Anthony Colve, from October ]4, 1G73, to February 9, 
1674. 



English Crovernors. 



Richard Nicolls, . from 

Frances Lovelace, from 1667, to 
Sir Edmund Andross, . from 

Anthony Brockholst, . do. 

Thomas Dongan, . do. 

Francis JNicholson, , do. 

Jacob Leisler, (Lieut. Gov.) do. 
Henry Sioughter, . . do. 

Richard Ingoisby, (Lt. Gov.) do. 
Benjamin F'letcher, . do. 

Richard, Earl ol Bellamont, do. 
John Nanfan, (Lt. Gov.) do. 

Lord Cornbury,, . , do. 

Lord Lovelace, . . do. 

Richard Ingolsby, (do.) — 
GerardusBeekman, (Presidt.) so. 
General Hunter, . . do. 

Peter Schuyler, (President) do. 
William Burnet, . . do. 

John Montgomery, . uo. 

Rip Van Dam, (President) do. 
William Crosby, . . do. 

George Clark, . , do. 

George Clinton, . . do. 

James Delancy, (Lieut. Gov.) do. 
Danvers Osborn, . . do; 

Sir Charles Hardy, . do. 

James Delancy, (Lieut. Gov.) do. 
Cadwallader Colden, (Lt.Gov.) do. 
Robert Monckten, . do. 

Cadwallader Colden, (Lt.Gov.) do. 



Sept. 7, 1664 
October 19, 16 
1674 
1681 
1G&3 
1688 
IGS9 
1691 
1691 
1692 
1698 
1701 
1702 
170B 
17C9 
1710 
1710 
1719 
1720 
1728 
1731 
1732 
1736 
1743 
1753 
1753 
1755 
1757 
1760 
1762 
1763 



to 166i 
73. 

to 16B1 

- 1683 

- 1688 

- 1691 



- 1698 

- 1701 

- 1702 

- 1708 

no9 



1719 
1720 
1728 
1731 
1732 
1736 
1743 
1753 



1755 
1757 
1760 
1762 
17u3 
1765 



448 HISTORY OF THE 



Henry Moore, 


from 


1765 


- 1770 


John EarJ, of Dunmore 


do. 


1770 


- 17111 


William Tryon, 


do. 


1771 


- 1775 



The Colonial government was suspended in May, 1775. 
From that time, to the twentieth of April, 1777, the state waC 
governed by a provincial Congress, aided by town and county 
committees. General Nathaniel Woodhull was elected presi- 
dent of the Congress, in August 1775, The state government 
went into operation, after the adoption of the constitution, on 
the twentieth of April, 1777. 

State Governors. 

George Clinton, 

John Jay, 

George Clinton, 

Morgan Lewis, 

Uaniel D. Tompkins 

John Taylor, (Lieut. G.) 

De Witt Clinton, 

Joseph C. Yates, 

De Witt Clinton, 

Joshua Pitcher, (Lieut. G.) from the death 
of Mr. Clinton, February ninth, 1828, to 
the first of January, 1829. 

Martin Van Beuren, from the first of Jan- 
uary, 1829, to Marcl\, in the same year. 
Vacancy by resignation. 

Enos Troop, the Lieutenant Governor, who 
succeeded Mr. Van Beuren, now admin- 
isters the government. 

The following statement was furnished me by Mr. Camp- 
bell, Deputy Secretary of this state. 



■j'om 


• 


1777 to 1795 


do. 


• 


1795 - 1801 


do. 


• 


1801 - 1804 


do. 


• 


1804 - 1807 


do. 


• 


1807 - 1817 


do. 


• 


1817 


do. 


July 4, 


1817 - 1822 


do. 


• 


1822 - 1824 


do. 


• 


1824 - 1828 



J\ew.York, since the year 1789, scattering votes excepted. "^ 



Year. 



Persons voted for. 



1789 

1792 

1795 

1798 

1801 

1804 

1807 

1810 

1813 

1816 

1817 

1820 

1822 

1824 

1826 

1828 



Votes 
for ench. 



George Clinton 
Robert Yates 

George Clinton 
John Jay 

John Jay 
Robert Yates 

John Jay 

Robert R. Livingston 

George Clinton 
Stephen Van Rensselaier 

Morgan Lewis 
Aaron Burr 

Daniel D. Tompkins 
Morgan Lewis 

Daniel D Tompkins 
Jonas Piatt 

Daniel D. Tompkins 
Stephen Van Rensselaer 

Daniel D. Tompkins 
Rufus King 

De Witt Clinton 43310 

Peter B. Porter 1479 

De Witt Clinton 47447 

Daniel D. Tompkins 45990 

Joseph C. Yates 128493 

Solomon Southwick 2910 

De Witt Clinton 103452 

Samuel Young 87093 

De Witt Clinton 99785 

William B. Rochester 96135 

Martin Van Buren 136794 

Smith Thompson 106444 

Solomon Southwick 33345 



6391 
5962 

8440 
*8332 

13481 
11892 

16012 
13632 

24808 
20843 

30829 
22139 

35074 
30989 

43094 
36484 

43324 
39718 

45412 
3»b47 



'I'olaJ No. 
of votes. 



12353 
16772 
25373 
29644 
45651 
62968 
66063 
79578 
83042 
84059 
44789 
93446 
131403 
190545 
195820 

276538 



Majority. 



329 

108 
1589 
2380 
3965 
869a 
4085 
6610 
3606 
6765 



1467 



16359 
3650 



* The votes of the counties of Otsego, Tiog* aad Clinton, were oot «an7aiita. 



450 HISTORY OF THE 

From the organization of the State Government, in 1777 
to 1789, George Clinton was elected Governor, without opposi- 
tion. No record has been kept of the number of votes he re- 
ceived. 

Remarks. — Mr. Southwick was the Anti-Masonic candidate. 
The Anti-Masonic party may be considered a new party, snice 
there has been none of this name before in the state, or in the 
United States. The occasion which gave rise to this party, 
was the abduction of a man of the name of Morgan, who be- 
longed to the ancient fraternity of the holy brotherhood. This 
man, Morgan, it is alleged by some of the brotherhood, dis- 
closed the highly important secrets of masonry, which hud 
always been concealed from the vulgar, and especially from the 
fair sex, whom, it is said, could never keep a secret, and noised 
them abroad. Now it so happened, that this highly important 
disclosure gave unspeakable displeasure to some of the weaker 
and more zealous members of the craft, who dwell in the neigh- 
bourhood of Morgan. These held sundry nocturnal meetings, 
where it seems to have been resolved upon, after divers lucu- 
brations, to inflict exemplary punishment on the man Morgan. 
Disregarding, therefore, the laws of their country and the laws 
of God, they seized Morgan in a rlahdpstine manner, and 
carried him forcibly from place to place, as far as Niagara, 
where, it is verily believed, they violated X\ie sixth command- 
ment, which saith, " Thou shall not MIV^ 

The abduction of Morgan has occasioned, and very justly, 
great excitement among the people in the western parts of this 
state. Hitherto, (and nearly three years have elapsed since the 
abduction,) no intelligence has been obtained in relation to 
the fate of this unfortunate man ; although the most unwearied 
researches have been made. 

Such was the origin of the party called Anti-Masonic. And 
after all, nothing new was told. No new disclosures were 
made. The same secrets had been published on the other side 
of the great water, before Morgan was born ; and had been read 
and read, not only on that side, but on this, till they had be< 



» 



STATE OF NEW-YORK. 451 



come perfectly stale. Solomon says, " There is nothing new 
under the sun.^^ The abducers, however, were of a contrary 
opinion. They firmly believed, that wiiat was now communi- 
cated, had never been communicated before. They must needs 
make way with both Morgan, and his book of disclosures, other- 
wise the whole fabric of masonry would be razed to the ground. 
'J'his course was the best imaginable to give importance to things 
which were indiderent in themselves, and whicU would have 
been forgotten belore now, had they been let alone. 



ERRATA. 

Page 12 of contents, line 7, read posts instead of ports; 

13 do. line 24 from the top, instead of cotm/tcs, read 

countries, 

3, line 6 from the bottom, for prosecution read protection. 

141 line 8 from the top, for " as the latter is of," read *' as 

the latter is to that of." 
258, line 13 from the top, for Van Schenick, read Van 

Schaick. 
420, lines 5 and 18, read Saughdaghquada, for Saughdagh- 

quadu. 
435, line 18 from the top, read objects for object. This is the 

case with only a few sheets. 



\ 



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